CONFIDENCE-BUILDING IN CYPRUS

Early day motion 617, tabled 18 December 1997 by Lord Corbett of Castle Vale (Labour). Signed by 31 members.

That this House welcomes the decision by the United Nations to increase the number of telephone lines across the Green Line in Cyprus between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, a decision which flowed from the November 1997 Brussels meeting of business people from both Cypriot communities, attended by Richard Holbrooke and Sir David Hannay; also welcomes the Business Forum premises now being set up at the Ledra Palace and the regular meetings of Greek and Turkish Cypriot business people with a view to early implementation of the 20 proposals contained in Initiative for Peace and additional proposals submitted by the Turkish Cypriots; and generally welcomes increased contacts between the two communities in which over 2,000 people in professional, academic and trade union groups are now involved and which will help the atmosphere within which the United Nations intercommunal negotiations and the European Union accession negotiations will be conducted in 1998.

Signatures by party: Labour 23, Liberal Democrat 4, Conservative 2, Labour/Co-operative 2.