Mar. 07 2024
Source Page: Cyprus: Knowledge Base profileFound: Cyprus: Knowledge Base profile
Mar. 12 2024
Source Page: British Forces Cyprus invests in electric vehicle charging solutionsFound: British Forces Cyprus invests in electric vehicle charging solutions
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the comments made in 2004 by the then Prime Minister on the need to “end the isolation of northern Cyprus”; and what progress they have made towards lifting sanctions on trade and travel to that region.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as an independent state. Several UN Security Council Resolutions also limit links between UK and the north of Cyprus. Within these constraints we support measures to reduce the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and regularly engage the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce on this issue. We continue to support a just and lasting Cyprus Settlement as the best means of resolving the difficulties caused by the division of the island.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, how many officials in his Department are stationed in Northern Cyprus as of 20 May 2024.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as an independent state. The FCDO does not have personnel permanently based in the north of Cyprus.
Mar. 01 2024
Source Page: Work begins on 138 new homes for service personnel and their families in CyprusFound: Work begins on 138 new homes for service personnel and their families in Cyprus
Apr. 30 2024
Source Page: PM call with President Christodoulides of the Republic of Cyprus: 30 April 2024Found: PM call with President Christodoulides of the Republic of Cyprus: 30 April 2024
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2023 to Question 3452 on Cyprus: Land Mines, what progress the Government has made on encouraging the Greek Cypriot administration to join efforts to de-mine the island of Cyprus.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK is unequivocal in its support for a mine-free Cyprus. As UN Security Council penholder on Cyprus and a leading troop contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), we led the drafting of UN Security Council Resolution 2723 in January to renew UNFICYP's mandate and welcomed its unanimous adoption. The resolution included language urging both leaders to overcome existing barriers and expedite demining progress in Cyprus. We engage all sides to encourage the flexibility needed to make progress on tangible cooperation now, and ultimately to reach a just and lasting Cyprus settlement.
Asked by: Pauline Latham (Conservative - Mid Derbyshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in (a) the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and (b) Cyprus on the potential merits of introducing direct flights from UK airports to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the last 12 months.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as an independent state. Under the Chicago Convention, only the Republic of Cyprus may designate Cypriot airports for international flights. It has not done so for Ercan airport. As such, it is not possible to fly directly between the UK and the north of Cyprus. Ministers have not discussed this topic with the Cypriot government or Turkish Cypriot administration. The FCDO does not hold data on arrivals to Ercan airport.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, how much the Department (a) has spent in the last ten years and (b) plans to spend in each of the next three years on de-mining efforts in (i) the Republic of Cyprus, (ii) the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, (iii) the UN-administered buffer zone and (iv) in and around the sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK is unequivocal in its support for a mine-free Cyprus. The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) works to create options for the sides to progress with the next phase of clearing hazardous areas across the island. Last year we contributed over £1.3 million to UNFICYP and we are consistently a leading contributor of personnel. In January, as penholder we drafted UNSCR 2723 which urged both leaders to overcome existing barriers and expedite demining progress in Cyprus.
Dec. 14 2023
Source Page: First review of the UK-Cyprus bilateral memorandum of understanding: 2023 joint statementFound: First review of the UK-Cyprus bilateral memorandum of understanding: 2023 joint statement