29TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH INVASION OF CYPRUS

Early day motion 1597, tabled 16 July 2003 by Andrew Dismore (Labour). Signed by 34 members.

That this House notes that 20th July will be the 29th anniversary of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus; welcomes the optimism engendered by Cyprus' EU accession next year; condemns Mr Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, for again blocking progress towards a solution by refusing to put the Annan Plan to a referendum whilst Mr Papadopolous, the President of the Republic of Cyprus was prepared to put the plan to a referendum of the Greek Cypriot people; commends the measures put forward by the Republic of Cyprus to help Turkish Cypriots and welcomes the easing of restrictions on members of the two communities crossing the green line, but recognises these steps cannot be a substitute for negotiations leading to a final settlement; and urges the two communities' leaders and those who have an influence on them, including Her Majesty's Government, Turkey, Greece, the USA and the EU, to redouble their efforts to restart talks at the earliest opportunity so as to ensure a just and lasting settlement is reached to enable Cyprus to join the European Union as a single sovereign state in May 2004.

Signatures by party: Labour 24, Liberal Democrat 5, Conservative 2, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 1.