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Cyprus: Diplomatic Relations

Volume 470: debated on Monday 7 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the duties and responsibilities are of the Government’s Special Representative to Cyprus, the hon. Member for Enfield North. (171122)

My right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan), the UK’s special representative to Cyprus, is responsible for developing and strengthening links between the Government and the British Cypriot community. Her role is to work with the Cypriot diaspora and explore how they can help to promote a settlement in Cyprus. She acts as an additional channel of communication between British Cypriots and Ministers, and maintains strong links with senior figures within Cyprus involved in issues such as the UN process and the UK/Cyprus bilateral relationship. In this capacity, and following her first official visit in October, she will visit Cyprus occasionally to reinforce these contacts and deepen further her knowledge of all relevant issues.