Skip to main content

Cyprus

Volume 226: debated on Monday 7 June 1993

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Greek Government regarding the number of settlers from mainland Greece who have emigrated to southern Cyprus.

Questions of settlement and property rights for both communities in Cyprus are intrinsic to the United Nations "Set of Ideas", endorsed by the Security Council as the basis of a settlement. We have urged acceptance of the "Set of Ideas" on both sides, including when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Cypriot Foreign Minister Mr. Michaelides on 12 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-Cypriots have been permitted by the Greek-Cypriot authorities to settle in southern Cyprus since 1963; and what is the estimated total population of southern Cyprus.

According to figures given by the Republic of Cyprus, the population of the area in question was estimated at 575,000, of whom 10,529 were resident aliens. We have no figures for immigration since 1963.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Greek-Cypriot authorities regarding Turkish-Cypriot men, women and children who went missing in 1963, 1967 and 1974.

We support the efforts of the United Nations intercommunal committee on missing persons; but its efforts depend on full co-operation from both sides.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to make an official visit to Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Our aim is to give effective support to the continuing inter-communal negotiations on Cyprus under United Nations auspices. This year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has continued to have frequent meetings with Cypriot Ministers, and other parties to the dispute, in London and elsewhere. The timing of any possible visit to Cyprus must be carefully considered in that light.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Greek and Greek-Cypriot troops he estimates are under arms in Cyprus.

According to official figures of the Republic of Cyprus, the strength of the Greek Cypriot national guard is 10,000. In addition there is a regiment of 950 men of the Greek Army, plus 1,100 secondees from the Greek army to the Greek Cypriot national guard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people are estimated to have been killed in Cyprus in connection with the political situation (a) between independence and 1974 and (b) 1975 and the present date.

No definitive figures are available.The United Nations committee on missing persons is attempting to trace and account for those reported missing in the earlier period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make representations to the Greek Cypriot regime regarding Turkish-Cypriot homes and farms occupied by Greek-Cypriots in southern Cyprus.

Questions of settlement and property rights for both communities in Cyprus are intrinsic to the United Nations "Set of Ideas", endorsed by the Security Council as the basis of a settlement. We have urged acceptance of the "Set of Ideas" on both sides, including when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met Cypriot Foreign Minister Mr. Michaelides on 12 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British tourists visited the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in each of the last three years.

The following are our estimated figures for British tourists visiting the north of Cyprus in the last three years:

Number
199040,000
199130,000
199240,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of his time the British High Commissioner in Cyprus spends in the north of the island.

We do not recognise the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" or its "government". As a consequence, the High Commissioner himself spends considerably less of his time in the north of the island. However, we take care to keep in close touch with the Turkish Cypriot community at all levels, including through him; and members of his staff have regular and frequent dealings with the Turkish Cypriots.