§ Sir Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2004,Official Report, column 55W, on Cyprus, when he expects direct flights between Northern Cyprus and United Kingdom airports to commence; and whether the Government have safety concerns about direct flights of commercial aircraft to Ercan airport. [179540]
§ Mr. MacShaneThere are a number of factors that will determine if, and when, direct flights between the UK and northern Cyprus might begin. Many of these are not in the gift of HMG. Nevertheless, we will continue to work with our international partners to promote the EU's goal of ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, including by better transport links of all kinds.
If direct flights did commence between northern Cyprus and the UK then Ercan airport would of course have to meet the required standards in safety and security.
§ Sir Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2004,Official Report, column 55W, on Cyprus, what financial assistance (a) the Government and (b) the European Union is providing to Northern Cyprus; and for what specific purpose. [179542]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe EU agreed to the allocation of €259 million EU structural funds to the Turkish Cypriots. The UK's share of that figure will be broadly in line with its contribution to the total EU budget of approximately one fifth.
1328WWe await the Commission proposals aimed at ending the international economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Our High Commission in Nicosia will work closely with Cypriot officials to ensure that aim is achieved, and will continue to run projects aimed at strengthening administrative capacity and economic governance.
The fundamental goal at the heart of this assistance is to improve prospects of agreement to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in the future.