Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 21 June 2010.
David Burrowes
Conservative, Enfield, Southgate
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in talks between the leaders of the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots on Cyprus; what his Department's objectives are for the outcome of those talks; and if he will make a statement.
David Lidington
The Minister for Europe
This is a UN-led process, by Cypriots for Cypriots, aimed at reaching an agreed settlement to the Cyprus problem for the benefit of all those on the island. The reunification of Cyprus would be the best thing for both communities, and the Government will do all they can to support the leaders as they work towards this. We welcome the resumption of negotiations in Cyprus under the agreed UN parameters and urge both leaders to work together to achieve a comprehensive settlement, based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality. The two leaders are currently discussing the issue of property and regular meetings are scheduled throughout June and July.
Yes0 people think so
No4 people think not
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Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
Annotations
F Hussein
Posted on 22 Jun 2010 11:18 am (Report this annotation)
What is the position of the government on the issue of the timescales relating to resolution? The talks seem to be going on forever and there clearly needs to be an end in sight that the 2 leaders should be working towards otherwise the risk of the process being strung out will problematic.
Donald Crawford
Posted on 22 Jun 2010 11:59 am (Report this annotation)
Who on earth does David Burrowes think is going to be impressed by such a futile enquiry? Anyone who actually follows these talks knows full well that they going nowhere fast. There is nothing that the UK government can do or say about that, so their trotted out 'support' is meaningless. In short, a silly question, leading inevitably to a pointless answer.