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| May 1999 24.5.99 Tom Cox received written answers to his Cyprus questions to the Foreign Secretary.21.5.99 Tom Cox received written answer to his Cyprus question to the Foreign Secretary. 20.5.99 Tom Cox tables 4 Questions on Cyprus for Answer by the Foreign Secretary. 20.5.99 Andrew Dismore tables Question on Cyprus for Answer by the Foreign Secretary. 18.5.99 Cyprus Debate initiated by Nigel Waterson. 17.5.99 Reference to Cyprus by Alan Meale during Commons debate. 17.5.99 Reference to Cyprus by Tony Lloyd during Commons debate 11.5.99 Mr. Hancock received written answer to his question on Military exercises in Cyprus. |
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| Commons Written Answers (24
May 1999) FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (Cyprus) Cyprus Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Greek Cypriot (a) men, (b) women and (c) children up to the age of 16 years are living in the Karpas area of occupied northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [84951]Ms Quin: According to UNFICYP figures there are 450 Greek Cypriots living in the Karpas. We do not have figures showing the proportion of men and women. In addition to the 30 children who attend the Greek school in Rizokarpasso, there are a number of pre-school children in the Karpas. 24 May 1999 : Column: 26 Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department has taken in conjunction with the British High Commission in Cyprus to support projects to encourage contacts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots living in Cyprus; and if he will list the projects that have been supported in each of the last three years. [84963] Ms Quin: Until December 1997 bi-communal contact was possible but difficult. The High Commission worked hard in the period May 1996 to December 1997 to bring members of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities together. They created the Westminster group to promote the principles of democracy through bi-communal contacts with members of all professions and organised its meetings, arranged meetings of Chevening scholars, and brought members of both communities together through other events such as the Queen's birthday party and the Education fair. In addition, members of the High Commission have assisted with and participated in many other events sponsored by the UN and other bodies to bring members of the two communities together. Since December 1997 most bi-communal contacts have been banned by the Turkish Cypriot side. We have therefore found it effectively impossible to arrange bi-communal contacts on-island. But we arranged a meeting on 24 March in London of Cypriot Chevening scholars in co-operation with the Friends of Cyprus. We also continue to support the work of other in this field, notably the Trade Unions.Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when an official of the British High Commission in Cyprus last visited the Karpas area in occupied northern Cyprus; and what report of that visit has been produced. [84964] Ms Quin: A member of the British High Commission last visited the Greek Cypriot community in the Karpas on 7 May as part of a regular series of visits to that area. The High Commission reports no significant changes in living conditions since the previous visit in October 1998. Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what surveys have been carried out to establish the number of Turkish Cypriots who were born in Cyprus, and still live in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [84939] Ms Quin: In November 1997 the Turkish Cypriot authorities published the results of a census carried out the previous year which found that, of 200,587 people resident in the northern part of the island, 137,398 had been born in Cyprus. These figures are accepted among Turkish Cypriots as generally accurate, but we have no means of independent corroboration. |
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| House of Commons Written Answers (21 May 1999) Cyprus
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has held with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus in connection with its application for membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. [84940] Ms Quin: I visited Cyprus last month to discuss with the Government of Cyprus, and with leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community, the prospects for a settlement and progress with Cyprus' application to join the EU. There is also close and regular contact at official level. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I have regular discussions with colleagues from other EU member states on all aspects of the accession process. |
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| Written Questions for Answer on Thursday 20 May 199959 Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and
Commonwealth Affairs, how many Greek Cypriot (a) men, (b) women and (c) children up to the
age of 16 years are living in the Karpass area of occupied northern Cyprus;
and if he will make a statement. (84951)
60 Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has held with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus in connection with its application for membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement. (84940) 61 Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action his Department has taken in conjunction with the British High Commission in Cyprus to support projects to encourage contacts between Greek and Turkish Cypriots living in Cyprus; and if he will list the projects that have been supported in each of the last three years. (84963) 62 Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when an official of the British High Commission in Cyprus last visited the Karpass area in occupied northern Cyprus; and what report of that visit has been produced. (84964) 63 Tom Cox (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what surveys have been carried out to establish the number of Turkish Cypriots who were born in Cyprus, and still live in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. (84939) 64 Mr Andrew Dismore (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) embassies and high commissions and (b) consulates have e-mail and Internet links available to honourable Members. |
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| House of Commons Debates for 18 May 1999 CyprusMr. Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): When he plans to visit Cyprus to discuss its accession to the EU. [83503] The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Ms Joyce Quin): Last month, I visited Cyprus to discuss with representatives of both communities the prospects for a settlement and the progress on Cyprus's application to join the European Union. Although my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary currently has no plans to visit Cyprus, he and I have regular discussions with colleagues from other EU member states on all aspects of the accession process. There is also close and regular contact at official level. Mr. Waterson: Does the Minister agree that the decision not to deploy missiles in the south of the island is only the latest in a long series of constructive gestures made by the Republic of Cyprus, which consistently have not been met by reciprocal gestures by the regime in the north? Will she confirm that the only criteria that could and should properly be applied in negotiations on Cyprus's accession to the European Union are those that would be applied in the case of any other applicant country? Ms Quin: On the hon. Gentleman's first point, we welcomed at the time the decision not to deploy the missiles, and believe that that was a positive step. Indeed, we urged that the authorities in the north should make similar gestures to build confidence and try to relaunch the peace process on the island. I should also like to pay tribute to the work of Dame Ann Hercus, who negotiates regularly with both communities on the island in trying to move the process forward. Perhaps I should also remind the hon. Gentleman that our own Prime Minister has made a strong commitment to undertaking every effort possible to relaunch the peace process this year. Moves towards reunification of the island and a peaceful settlement would be very helpful in the context of European Union accession. However, as I have made clear on many occasions, no outside, non-EU country has a veto on Cyprus's accession. We believe that Cyprus's application should be treated on its merits, as other applications are being considered and treated. Mr. Stephen Twigg (Enfield, Southgate): I welcome my right hon. Friend's reaffirmation of the Government's commitment to Cyprus's application to the European Union. Does she agree that further progress on achieving a settlement to the Cyprus question will require action by the Governments of Turkey and the United States? Will she tell the House what representations to that effect the British Government have made to the Administrations in Ankara and Washington? Ms Quin: In our contacts with all interested parties, but particularly with Turkey and the United States--with whom we have worked closely on the issue--we have repeatedly urged on all sides efforts to try to make progress towards a settlement. We shall certainly continue to do so. We feel that it would be quite wrong simply to sit back at a time when EU accession negotiations offer an important opportunity. We believe that European Union membership would be very much in the interests of both communities on the island of Cyprus. |
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| House of Commons Debates for 17 May 1999 Litter Laws The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Mr. Alan Meale): Mr. Deputy Speaker, thank you for doing your duty. We often forget that people such as you are here until the end of the day. I thank also the Labour Members, and the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Russell), who have stayed beyond the call of duty. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Waveney (Mr. Blizzard) on securing this debate on the enforcement of anti-litter laws. I am pleased to respond on an issue that should concern everyone……….. Because of the scale of the problem in certain areas, and the fact that the police deal with other priorities, many people ask why there are not more litter wardens on our streets. My answer is simple--decisions to appoint litter wardens are left to the discretion of local authorities in the light of local priorities and resources. It is left to them to decide whether litter may be more efficiently tackled in other ways, such as education and increased cleansing. I disagree with my hon. Friend's assertion that the argument for education had largely been lost. Other countries have a better record in educating their population. One example that I would cite is Cyprus, where young people of all ages at all schools are responsible for a portion of the beach in their area. Every school child participates in collecting the litter on that part of the beach throughout the year. A sum of money is paid by the Government to the school for that activity. It certainly educates the children of Cyprus to a high degree. The areas where mainly resident Cypriots live are very tidy. The tourist resorts bring 2.5 million tourists a year to that wonderful country, including 1.9 million from Britain. It is the tourists who are responsible for most of the litter. Despite the perceptions of some members of the British public, almost a quarter of local authorities have already appointed wardens, and I would encourage more to do so. One of the reasons given by local authorities for not employing litter wardens is that the fines that they collect, which substitute for fines in the courts, are returned to the Exchequer. I know that my hon. Friend knows something about that, as he has frequently raised concerns about the matter with my Department. |
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| House of Commons Written Answers for 17 May 1999 FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS (Arms Sales) Arms Sales Ms Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a country may be admitted to the European Union without becoming a signatory to the European Union code of conduct on arms sales. [84257] Mr. Tony Lloyd: In practice we would expect all EU member states to adhere in full to the Code of Conduct, including through participation in the information exchange and consultation mechanism established in the operative provisions of the Code. The Associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Associated country Cyprus, and Iceland and Norway have already aligned themselves with the criteria and the principles contained in the EU Code on Arms Exports. |
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| House of Commons Written Answers for 11 May 1999 Training Exercises Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many personnel were deployed on the 15 training exercises in Cyprus carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998; [72777]Cyprus carried out between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 1998. [72776] Mr. Doug Henderson: 1,755 personnel took part in the 15 Lion Sun exercises during this period. It has not been possible to identify separately the costs of these exercises. |
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