Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking as Guarantor of Cyprus’s independence and territorial integrity to help reunite the island.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to supporting the UN efforts to reach a Cyprus Settlement and we are actively engaging all parties to encourage the flexibility needed to return to talks. In addition, we support a range of confidence building measures in Cyprus to promote engagement between the communities. We also continue to contribute to peace and stability in Cyprus through our deployment of military personnel to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on negotiations on a peaceful, comprehensive, and long-lasting solution to reunite divisions over Cyprus.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to supporting UN efforts to reach a Cyprus Settlement within the existing parameters of a Bi-zonal, Bi-communal Federation with political equality. We engage all parties in support of this. I raised this with my Turkish counterpart on 12 July. His Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey most recently discussed Cyprus with Turkish counterparts on 19 September. I also met with the Turkish Ambassador to the UK on 9 October when we also discussed the Cyprus Issue.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on reducing the number of Turkish troops stationed in Cyprus.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK actively supports peace and stability in Cyprus as a leading troop contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping Force In Cyprus (UNFICYP) and through our support for the UN-led process to reach a comprehensive Cyprus Settlement. We believe this remains the best route to addressing the difficult issues of the status quo. In January, as penholder, we drafted United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2723 which strongly encouraged the parties to engage and consider new military confidence building measures. We do not routinely comment on the activities of non-UK personnel.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on the return of Famagusta to its former inhabitants on the 50th anniversary of its capture.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports the numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions covering the issue of Varosha, Famagusta, alongside the related 2021 UNSC Statement. Property remains one of the most complex issues of the status quo in Cyprus. Ultimately, the most effective way to resolve these issues is through the UN-led process to reach a just and lasting Cyprus Settlement. The UK regularly engages all parties to support this.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to visit Cyprus.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Cyprus is a key partner of the UK and our relationship has never been stronger. Our shared history, close people-to-people links and common values, including as members of the Commonwealth, lead us to co-operate across a broad range of priority areas. I spoke with Minister Kombos on 16 July and the Secretary of State for Defence visited Cyprus on 2 October. I look forward visiting Cyprus when diaries allow.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the Cypriot authorities on both sides to reveal the locations of buried missing people.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We share the concerns of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities over the missing persons following the events of 1974. We support the crucial work being undertaken by the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) by enabling them to work from a British-owned site in the Buffer Zone at minimal cost. Their work is crucial in bringing closure for the many families affected.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps British citizens of Cyprus origin can take to safeguard their properties in Famagusta.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the Immovable Property Commission established in the north provides an effective remedy for local property issues related to the Cyprus Problem. It is for individuals to decide whether to approach the IPC. The relevant documentation can be found on the IPC website.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to stop provocation by Turkey by (a) opening the fenced off town of Famagusta/Varosha and (b) ensuring that a solution for Cyprus is achieved as soon as possible.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains committed to supporting the UN process to reach a Cyprus Settlement, which is in the interests of Cyprus and regional stability. The UK is deeply concerned about the announcement made during the visit of President Erdogan to Cyprus on 19-20 July 2021 regarding the reopening and resettlement of an area constituting 3.4% of the fenced-off area of Varosha.
We strongly support the 23 July UN Security Council Presidential Statement which condemned the announcement. The UK strongly supports the relevant Security Council Resolutions covering the issue of Varosha. The announcement runs contrary to UN Security Council resolutions and to the Security Council Presidential Statement of 8 October 2020 which called for Turkey to halt and reverse its actions in Varosha.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take in response to the opening of the uninhabited town of Famagusta to tourists by the Turkish Cypriot Authorities under the guidance of Turkey, contrary to the UN resolutions 550 and 789.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is deeply concerned about the announcement made during the visit of President Erdogan to Cyprus on 19-20 July 2021 regarding the reopening and resettlement of an area constituting 3.4% of the fenced-off area of Varosha. We strongly support the 23 July UN Security Council Presidential Statement which condemned the announcement. The UK strongly supports the relevant Security Council Resolutions covering the issue of Varosha. The announcement runs contrary to UN Security Council resolutions and to the Security Council Presidential Statement of 8 October 2020 which called for Turkey to halt and reverse its actions in Varosha.
The UK has also been clear in calling for all sides to avoid any actions or statements that could damage the prospects for a Settlement. The issue of Varosha underlines the importance of reaching a comprehensive Cyprus Settlement.
Asked by: Martin Vickers (Conservative - Brigg and Immingham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development, whether any agreement on the future relationship between the UK and the EU will include Gibraltar.
Answered by Wendy Morton - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK continues to negotiate for the whole UK family, which includes Gibraltar. We remain fully committed to finding a solution that supports Gibraltar, its people and its economy.
The UK and the Government of Gibraltar have held a number of constructive discussions with Spain on this issue. It is clearly in all parties' interests to find a solution, to ensure ongoing well-being and prosperity in the region.