§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the new UN plan for a settlement in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [80493]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe British Government received a copy of the UN Secretary-General's proposals for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on 11 November in our capacity as a Guarantor Power of Cyprus. We will be studying these proposals carefully,8W particularly in so far as they affect our responsibilities under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, and will be responding to Kofi Annan in due course.
The Government warmly welcome the UN Secretary-General's decision to table his proposals for bridging the remaining gaps after the months of negotiations between the two sides. We believe this is a timely initiative which we will be giving our full support.
As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in a press statement on 11 November, the British Government believe that there is now the best chance to solve the Cyprus Problem in decades, and that this opportunity is not likely to recur in the foreseeable future. We will be working with all those concerned for a positive outcome.