§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Tooting (Mr. Cox) of 16 July 2002,Official Report, column 178W, on Cyprus, if he will set out the framework of relevant Security Council resolutions and treaties to be considered in the comprehensive peace negotiation between the two communities in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [73021]
§ Peter HainUN Security Council Resolution 1250 (1999) sets the framework for the current talks for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus. It calls upon the two leaders to commit themselves to the following principles
— no preconditions;— all issues on the table;— commitment in good faith to continue to negotiate until a settlement is reached;— full consideration of relevant United Nations resolutions and treaties.
§ Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors will be taken into account by the(a) UK and (b) EU in deciding whether Cyprus will accede to membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [73681]
§ Peter HainIn order to accede to the EU, each candidate country must comply with the EU's accession criteria as set out by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993. In respect of the accession of Cyprus, the UK and EU position remains as set out in the Conclusions reached by the 1999 Helsinki European Council, which stated that:
"A political settlement will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union. If no settlement has been reached by the completion of accession negotiations, the 228W Council's decision on accession will be made without the above being a precondition. In this the Council will take account of all relevant factors."