VISIT BY THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TO CYPRUS

Early day motion 2289, tabled 19 October 2011 by Jim Sheridan (Labour). Signed by 14 members.

That this House notes with deep concern that the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Tayip Erdogan, on his recent visit to Northern Cyprus, occupied by the Turkish army following the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island of Cyprus, stated that the town of Morphou would not be returned to the Republic of Cyprus in any settlement that is made to this long-running tragedy in a country which is a member of the Commonwealth, the EU and the United Nations;believes that this provocative statement by the Prime Minister of Turkey, a country now seeking membership of the EU, very clearly puts in question the real commitment of Turkey to a meaningful involvement in the discussion under the United Nations which is now taking place on Cyprus; and therefore calls on the Government and the leaders of the EU to deplore this very unhelpful and provocative statement and to make their concern very clearly known to the government of Turkey.

Signatures by party: Labour 12, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.