§ Lord Kilclooneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total area of United Kingdom sovereign bases in Cyprus proposed to be transferred if there is an agreement there; what area in each of the United Kingdom bases is involved; and what areas will be transferred to each of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot states as proposed in the United Nations plan. [HL1884]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe UK has offered to the UN to cede a total of 45 square miles of SBA territory as part of the UN settlement proposals. The UK made this offer after considering what practical help we could offer the UN Secretary-General in his efforts to secure a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Cyprus problem in time for 151WA a reunited Cyprus to sign the Treaty of Accession with the EU on 16 April. If there is no agreement within the UN timetable, or if the proposals are rejected in referenda on either side of the island, this offer to the UN, along with the remainder of the UN proposals, will become null and void.
The area that the UK has offered to the UN to cede comprises 10 square miles in the Western Sovereign Base Area and 35 square miles in the Eastern Sovereign Base Area. Approximately 10 per cent of the total area involved would be transferred to the Turkish Cypriots and 90 per cent to the Greek Cypriots.
§ Lord Kilclooneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they last had a meeting with representatives of the Council of the Turkish Cypriot Associations in the United Kingdom; and with which other Turkish Cypriot Organisations they have had meetings during 2003. [HL1885]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanOfficials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in regular contact with representatives of both the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities.
The Southern European Department wrote to the Chairman of the Council of the Turkish Cypriot Associations on 7 January inviting representatives to discuss recent developments. To date there has, unfortunately, been no reply.