Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom is still a guarantor power of Cyprus; what assessment they have made of whether Turkish-Cypriot property in Vasiliko is being confiscated to facilitate oil and gas exploitation in the south of Cyprus; and whether they have made any representations to the government of that country regarding the matter.

The UK continues to be one of the three Guarantor powers set out in the Treaty of Guarantee (1960). We are aware of media reports suggesting that confiscations are planned in the Vasiliko area. We have made no assessment of the potential impact of the proposed developments there on Turkish Cypriot-owned property, nor have we discussed this particular issue with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. The UK strongly supports the UN-facilitated process for a comprehensive settlement, which remains the best way to address the complex issues related to the division of Cyprus.