CYPRUS

Early day motion 1792, tabled 9 March 2006 by Edward O'Hara (Labour). Signed by 16 members.

That this House takes note of the set of proposals on Cyprus submitted by the Turkish government to the Secretary General of the United Nations on 20th January 2006; shares the stated wish of the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs for priority to be given to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus, and his gratification at the continued engagement of the Secretary-General with the matter; notes with concern however the proposals for a quadripartite meeting between Turkey, Greece, the Greek-Cypriot side and the Turkish-Cypriot side, the outcome of which would subsequently be endorsed by the Security Council of the UN; regards this as an attempt to elevate the secessionist Turkish Cypriot administration to the same status as the legitimate Government of the Republic of Cyprus, and as an attempt to involve the UN in what is properly a matter of Turkey's responsibilities to the EU as an applicant member; further notes with concern the proposal to render legitimacy to the secessionist entity by granting it governmental functions in contravention of international legality and successive UN resolutions; regretfully concludes that the purpose of these proposals is to evade Turkey's legal obligations towards the EU in respect of the extension of the additional Protocol of its Customs Union Agreement to the 10 new EU members including Cyprus; and calls upon Turkey to commit itself to a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus in accordance with UN resolutions, the founding principles of the EU and its obligations to the EU as an applicant member.

Signatures by party: Labour 13, Conservative 2, Liberal Democrat 1.