§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect on Turkey's application for status as an EU candidate member of(a) non-compliance with the ECHR judgment in the Loizidou case, (b) the extent to which the elections in occupied Cyprus later this year are fairly conducted and (c) the extent to which the Copenhagen criteria relating to human rights are implemented in occupied Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [R][123180]
§ Mr. MacShaneTurkey was granted EU candidate status at the Helsinki summit of 1999.
We remain strong supporters of Turkey's EU candidacy. We encourage the Turks to continue their process of legislative reforms in order to meet the Copenhagen political criteria, and particularly the priorities set out in the revised Accession Partnership. We will continue to find practical ways to help Turkey implement these reforms.
We welcome Turkey's recent commitment to pay the compensation awarded by the European Court of Human Rights to Ms Loizidou, by October.
The promotion and protection of human rights in the north of Cyprus would be best achieved through a comprehensive settlement on the basis of the UN plan. Turkey has repeatedly committed herself to supporting that process.
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§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on seeking the extradition of British citizens in occupied Cyprus who are wanted by the British police. [R][123413]
§ Mr. MacShaneAs the international community, apart from Turkey, does not recognise the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", there is no applicable extradition agreement and therefore no legal basis for the British authorities to seek the extradition of British citizens from the north of Cyprus.