Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what response the Government has made to the petition presented to 10 Downing Street on 9 December 2013 on the return of Famagusta to its lawful inhabitants and the opening of the city's seaport; and what steps the UK is taking to support the return of that city to its former inhabitants.

I wrote to the organisers of the petition on 15 January 2014. I understand the strength of feeling for the return of the Varosha area of Famagusta. The present state of that once-bustling town and nearby port reflects the consequences of the continued division of Cyprus.

We fully support all relevant Security Council resolutions, including Resolutions 550 and 789 which address the future of Varosha. We have raised this issue with the Turkish Cypriots and with the Turkish authorities. I remain convinced that, ultimately, a comprehensive settlement is the best chance of resolving this complex issue. The UK will continue to support the negotiations for a settlement, which will also address the question of Varosha.