FAMAGUSTA (VEROSHA), CYPRUS

Early day motion 851, tabled 8 March 2005 by Tom Cox (Labour). Signed by 57 members.

That this House deeply regrets that for the last 30 years key areas of the town of Famagusta have remained closed, unoccupied and underdeveloped; calls on the Government to make clear to both Turkish Cypriot authorities and the Government of Turkey that to allow this situation to continue is to be deeply deplored; believes that they could and should enter into negotiations with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus on re-opening this important area of Famagusta and that doing so would clearly show a real commitment to developing policies that would bring major benefits to both Greek and Turkish Cypriots who have close links with Famagusta and would undoubtedly greatly help improve the image of Turkey as it seeks to develop its possible future membership of the European Union.

Signatures by party: Labour 42, Labour/Co-operative 6, Conservative 5, Liberal Democrat 4.