The UK Government are aware of the continued difficulties the Maronite community in Cyprus face as a result of the continued division of Cyprus. This includes difficulties in accessing their villages of origin and homes. Ultimately, the difficulties faced by the Maronite community as a result of the political situation on the island will only be fully resolved by a comprehensive settlement to reunite the island. We will continue to engage with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to support progress towards a settlement, and fully support their current negotiations towards this end.
The British high commission in Nicosia are in regular contact with the appropriate Turkish Cypriots and raise such issues with them.
I regularly express the UK's support for such confidence-building measures during my contacts with Cypriot Ministers and officials, and urge both sides to look at already agreed, and new, measures and to publicise their benefits. Confidence-building measures play an important role in building trust between communities and adding momentum to discussions. It is important that these are discussed and implemented by the two communities for the benefit of all Cypriots, but they should not distract from the process.
Confidence-building measures play an important role in building trust between communities and adding momentum to discussions. It is important that these are discussed and implemented by the two communities for the benefit of all Cypriots, but that they should not distract from the process. I regularly express the UK's support for such measures during my contacts with Cypriot Ministers and officials, and urge both sides to continue to look at already agreed, and new, measures and to publicise their benefits.
We are following this issue closely and stand ready to support the UN's efforts to achieve agreement.
The British Government are concerned at the continuing appropriation of, and construction on, Greek Cypriot-owned land in northern Cyprus. Our high commission in Nicosia regularly raises the issue of property development with the Turkish Cypriot leadership. We believe that the difficult and complex issue of property is only likely to be fully resolved in the context of a comprehensive settlement, and I remain committed to doing everything I can to support progress towards the settlement process. I continue to urge both sides to show the political will and flexibility to bridge the gap between words and deeds, and to engage constructively with the UN's efforts to broker a comprehensive and durable settlement.
In our contacts with the Turkish Cypriot leadership, we recognise the Turkish Cypriots' need for economic development in support of reunification. However, we urge them to ensure that any property development which does take place does so in a manner that both respects the environment and does not complicate an eventual solution.
We are pleased that the two leaders continue to meet on a regular basis to discuss a comprehensive settlement and are assisted by technical committees and working groups. Confidence-building measures play an important role in building trust between communities and adding momentum to discussions. It is important that these are discussed and implemented by the two communities for the benefit of all Cypriots, but that they should not distract from the process.
We are pleased that the two leaders continue to meet on a regular basis to discuss a comprehensive settlement. We urge both leaders and communities to seize this opportunity to reunite the island of Cyprus and to engage positively and flexibly in the process of negotiations.
The Government are aware of the difficulties faced by the Maronite community in Cyprus in accessing their villages of origin, including the villages of Agia Marina and Asomatos, and consequently in religious expression in those villages. We are also aware of the need for greater preservation of churches and other buildings of religious and cultural heritage in these villages, and throughout the northern part of Cyprus. We supported the Council of Europe’s resolution concerning the protection of national minorities in Cyprus adopted on 9 July 2008, which called for
“additional measures to support the revitalisation and promotion of the cultural, religious and linguistic heritage of the Maronites”.
We have also called for an early implementation by the leaders of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities of the sixteen confidence-building measures that they announced on 25 July 2008, three of which relate to the issue of cultural heritage. Ultimately, these issues occur as a result of the political situation on the island, and will only be fully resolved by a comprehensive settlement to reunite the island. We will continue to engage with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to support progress towards a settlement.
The UK regularly discusses the issues of the enclaved along with other member states in the Committee of Ministers in the European Court of Human Rights.
There are no UK Government estimates of the (a) number and (b) average age of anyone living in the Karpas peninsula.
There are no UK Government estimates of the (a) number and (b) average age of Maronites resident in northern Cyprus. The most recent UN Forces in Cyprus report referred to 142 Maronites living in the north.
We do not have any detailed information on any restrictions placed on Greek Cypriot enclaved residents living in the Karpas peninsula. The recent report by the UN Secretary General referred to the tight restrictions, applied by the Turkish Cypriot side, on UN movement in certain parts of the Karpas peninsula:
“which continues to hamper humanitarian and monitoring operations in the area”.
The report also noted that UN Forces in Cyprus:
“continues to receive with concern reports about the demolition of Greek Cypriot houses in the Karpas, including residences of those who had indicated their desire to return to the north”.
We are aware of the difficulties faced by Greek Cypriot communities living in the northern part of Cyprus who are enclaved as a result of the political situation on the island and the presence of Turkish troops in the northern part. This is an issue which will only be fully resolved by a comprehensive settlement to reunite the island. We will continue to engage with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to support progress towards a settlement.
There are no UK Government estimates of the number of (a) Turkish nationals and (b) Turkish settlers living in northern Cyprus.
Confidence-building measures play an important role in building trust between communities and adding momentum to discussions. It is important that these are discussed and implemented by the two communities for the benefit of all Cypriots but that they should not distract from the process. I regularly express the UK’s support for such measures during my contacts with Cypriot Ministers and officials, and urge both sides to continue to look at already agreed, and new, measures and to publicise their benefits.
Although I have no detailed information it is clear that the level of civil society activity in northern Cyprus is increasing. It is important that civil society underpins the settlement process.
We do not have detailed figures. However, such contacts are increasing and have an important role in underpinning any settlement.
The high commission are aware of reports in the press about the arrest of a 19-year-old and a 21-year-old appearing before the courts in relation to material published on Facebook. The reports claimed they were to be held in custody for seven days.
I have no plans to make representations on this matter.
According to figures from the ‘interior ministry’ in northern Cyprus, 160 people have been naturalised since 2005 and done so by the decision of the ‘Council of Ministers’ in northern Cyprus. This excludes marriages.
There are a number of issues which the negotiations could cover. Six working groups have discussed the following areas: governance and power sharing, EU matters, security and guarantees, territory, property and economic matters. The technical committees have discussed crime and criminal matters, economic and commercial matters, cultural heritage, crisis management, humanitarian and health matters and the environment. We are pleased that the two leaders continue to meet on a regular basis to discuss a comprehensive settlement. Thus far they have discussed matters of governance and power sharing.
According to media reports in July this year, the commission from its establishment in 2006 until June 2008, has paid €8,066,307 relating to 1,783,043 metres square of Greek Cypriot property.
In 2006, €2,817,088 compensation was paid, while €3,991,614 was paid in 2007.
729 applications by Greek Cypriots have been made to date of which 41 have been finalised; 35 by compensation, 3 by restitution and 2 by exchange of property. According to information released, one of the applications will have their property returned in the event of a solution.
We are considering the Advocate-General's opinion (AGO) carefully, but the AGO is not binding on the Court. As this case is ongoing it would not be appropriate for us to comment further on any implications.
On 7 December 2006, the European Court of Human Rights gave a judgment stating that Turkey must pay a just satisfaction award (damages plus legal costs and expenses) to the applicant. This has not yet been done and we urge Turkey to pay this award promptly.
The Guardian of Turkish Properties, an authority of the government of the Republic of Cyprus, was set up as the caretaker of properties in the south belonging to Turkish Cypriots who were refugees due to the division of the island. According to the law the Guardian takes over the property until the Cyprus problem is resolved when it will be handed back to its legal owners in the state it had been received.
The European Court of Human Rights is due to examine the Sofi case. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment.
Ultimately property issues are only going to be solved as part of a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus.
A Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights gave judgment in Varnavas and others v. Turkey (application nos. 16064/90, 16065/90, 16066/90, 16068/90, 16069/90, 16070/90, 16071/90, 16072/90 and 16073/90) on 10 January 2008. That judgment is not final, since the case was referred to the Grand Chamber which held a hearing on 19 November 2008. The Grand Chamber has not yet delivered its judgment. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate for the Government to comment.
According to the annual reports on the Green Line Regulation:
1 May 2007 to 30 April 2008: 633,163 Greek Cypriots and 1,162,739 Turkish Cypriots crossed the Green Line.
1 May 2006 to 30 April 2007: 788,823 Greek Cypriots and 1,348,215 Turkish Cypriots crossed the Green Line
1 May 2005 to 30 April 2006: 1,195,594 Greek Cypriots and 2,179,815 Turkish Cypriots crossed the Green Line.
We do not have any information on the number of mosques being built in north Cyprus or the sources of funding for such building.
The cemetery is not on UK territory, nor is it owned by the UK Government. It would be inappropriate, therefore, for us to comment on proposals to place memorials there.