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Secretary Of State (Visit)

Volume 657: debated on Thursday 5 April 1962

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16.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to Cyprus.

As part of a continuous process of maintaining continuous contact with other Commonwealth Governments I have just paid a three day visit to Cyprus. This gave me the opportunity for an extensive exchange of views with President Makarios, the Vice-President, Dr. Kutchuk, and other members of the Cyprus Government. I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of a joint statement issued at the end of my visit.

Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that no request was made to him during his visit for amendments to the Constitution of Cyprus? Can he say what discussions he had concerning the consequences to Cyprus of Britain's potential adhesion to the Common Market and, in particular, was there any suggestion that Cyprus should apply for associate membership of the Common Market?

I can confirm that the Government of Cyprus did not raise the question with me of any change in the Constitution. With regard to the other point, we certainly discussed problems which might arise if Britain were to join the European Common Market alone and we also discussed the possibility of Cyprus, being herself a European country, applying for associate membership in the same way as Greece.

Was my right hon. Friend able to satisfy the Cyprus Government that the preferential exports of Cyprus were being fully safeguarded in the negotiations with the European Economic Community?

Of course not, The negotiations are only half-way through. But the Government of Cyprus have, and they stated so in the joint communiqué, expressed their satisfaction with the way in which they were being consulted.

Might I press the right hon. Gentleman to say whether there was any discussion of Cyprus applying for associate membership of the Common Market, even if Britain does not enter?

I really do not think that it would be proper for me to speak in public—so to speak—as a spokesman for the Cyprus Government. These are alternative possibilities which are, naturally, being considered, but I do not suppose that any firm view has been reached as yet.

Following is the text:

Archbishop Makarios, President of the Republic of Cyprus, had a meeting this morning with Mr. Duncan Sandys, British Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations. The Vice-President and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Labour and Commerce also participated in the talks. The British High Commissioner was also present.
Discussions covered questions of mutual concern to Britain and Cyprus, including questions relating to employment in the Sovereign Base Areas.
Mr. Sandys explained to the Cyprus Ministers the latest developments in Britain's negotiations with the Six Governments of the European Economic Community; and they discussed together how the interest of Cyprus could best be safeguarded, if Britain joined the Common Market. Cyprus Ministers expressed satisfaction at the effective manner in which the British Government had kept them informed of the progress of the talks in Brussels.
In addition, a number of wider international issues were examined, including in particular the state of the disarmament negotiations in Geneva.
It was agreed that this exchange of views and information had been most helpful and that there was great value in the close and continuous consultation, which was one of the special features of the Commonwealth relationship.