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26 Jan 2004 : Column 55W—continued

Cyprus

Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European Union counterparts on the future of Cyprus and if he will make a statement. [150033]

Mr. MacShane: I frequently discuss the future of Cyprus with my European colleagues. We all agree on the desirability of an early settlement of the Cyprus problem so that a united island can join the EU on 1 May. This remains the Government's objective.

Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of prospects for an agreement between Greece and Turkey on the issue of the future sovereignty of Cyprus when the island accedes to the European Union on 1 May and if he will make a statement. [150034]

Mr. MacShane: The Government continue to believe that a settlement to the Cyprus problem is achievable by 1 May. But this will only be possible if all sides meet the requirements set down by the UNSG in April last year, and make a full and clear commitment to reach a settlement on the basis of the UNSG's proposals. Current indications give some cause for optimism. I was impressed during my recent visit to Turkey by the Turkish Government's determination to work for an early settlement.

Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of the latest UN plan for the sovereignty of Cyprus in achieving an agreement between Greece and Turkey and if he will make a statement. [150035]

Mr. MacShane: The Government believe that the UNSG's proposals are the only basis for a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem. The proposals are the product of involvement by the UN over many years. I can see no other solution that can adequately satisfy the legitimate concerns of all sides (including Greece and Turkey) on the island's future.

Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the (a) Turkish ambassador and (b) Greek ambassador to discuss the future of Cyprus. [150036]

Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Greek Foreign Minister on 22 January 2004. The Greek ambassador was present. The Foreign Secretary has not had a substantive meeting with the Turkish ambassador so far this year. But we are in very close contact with the Turkish embassy, and with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara. I met the Turkish ambassador on 21 January. The future of Cyprus was one of the main topics of discussion in all of these meetings.

26 Jan 2004 : Column 56W

Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what priorities he has set for assisting in negotiations aimed at achieving an agreement between Greece and Turkey on the sovereignty of Cyprus. [150037]

Mr. MacShane: Our first priority regarding Cyprus is to work for a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement. We believe the best, and only realistic, way of achieving this is through the continued efforts of the United Nations. We are actively encouraging all sides to meet the UN Secretary General's requirements for an early resumption of negotiations based on the UNSG's proposals, so that a united Cyprus can join the EU on 1 May 2004.

Departmental Properties

Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list residential properties sold by his Department since June 1997, and the net cash proceeds of each. [149856]

Mr. Rammell: Since June 1997 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has sold the following residential accommodation:

Head of post residencesStaff accommodationProperties
1997–98
Paris OECD1
Zurich1
Bogota1 Flat
Buenos Aires1 Flat
Canberra1 House
Capetown1 House
Geneva1 House
Georgetown1 House
Harare1 House
Helsinki2 Houses, 1 Flat
Johannesburg1 House
Lusaka4 House
Madrid1 Flat
Maputo1 House
Maseru2 Houses
Paris7 Flats
Pretoria1 House
Reykjavik1 House
The Hague2 Flats
Tirana1 House
Wellington1 House
Windhoek1 House
1998–99
Lille1
Marseilles1
Copenhagen2 Flats
Dublin1 House
Geneva4 Flats
Honiara1 House
Johannesburg2 Houses
Mbabane1 House
Oslo1 House
Ottawa2 Houses
Paris2 Flats
Ports of Spain1 House
PretoriaBlocks of Flats
The Hague1 Flat
1999–2000
Cleveland1
Bogota1 Flat
Bonn1 House
Bridgetown1 House
Budapest1 House
Gevena2 Flats
Johannesburg1 Flat
Kuala Lumpur1 Flat
Madrid1 House
Mbabane1 House
Paris2 Flats
Port Moresby2 Houses
Santiago1 House
Stockholm2 Flats
Sydney1 House
Tel Aviv1 House
2000 to 2001
Bonn1
Bonn1 House
Cairo2 Houses
Capetown1 House
Dar es SalaamBlock of 6 Flats
Dublin2 Houses
Geneva1 Flat
Helsinki1 House
Jakarta1 House
Kuala Lumpur1 Flat, 1 House
LagosBlock of 6 Flats
Lisbon1 House
Madrid1 House
Nairobi1 House
Nassau1 House
Ottawa3 Flats
Singapore1 House
2001–2002
Munich1
Paris1
St. John's1
Athens3 Flats
Bogota5 Flats
Brussels1 House, 1 Flat
Buenos Aires2 Houses
Cairo1 House
Capetown3 Houses
Chicago1 House
Dar es Salaam1 House
Dublin1 House
Geneva1 Flat
Helsinki1 House, 2 Flats
Jakarta1 House
Kingston1 House
Kuala Lumpur2 Houses
Lagos2 Houses
Lusaka1 House
Montevideo1 Flat
New York2 Flats
Oslo1 House
Ottawa1 House
Paris6 Flats
Port of Spain1 House, 1 Flat
Santiago1 Flat
Stanley1 House
Stockholm1 House
Sydney1 House
Tel Aviv4 Houses
The Hague3 Flats
Valetta1 House
Vienna1 House
Washington1 House, 6 Flats
2002–2003
Lyon1
Amman1 House
Bridgetown4 Houses
Canberra2 Houses
Dakar1 House
Dublin2 Houses
Durban1 House
Lagos1 House
Lilongwe6 Houses
Lusaka1 House
Madrid1 Flat, 1 House
Muscat2 Houses
Ottawa1 Flat
Paris2 Flats
Pretoria1 House
Reykjavik1 House
Santiago1 House
Strasbourge1 House
Washington1 House, 2 Flats
2003–2004
Gothenburg1
Guatemala1
Ho Chi Minh City1
San Francisco1
Auckland1 House
Budapest1 Flat
Buenos Aires1 Flat
Capetown1 House
Dublin1 House
Gaberone2 Houses
Ho Chi Minh City3 Properties
Madrid1 House
Nairobi3 Houses
Port of Spain1 House
Washington6 Houses, 1 Flat

Note:

The total receipts for the period covered is £88.5 million.


26 Jan 2004 : Column 58W

For reasons of commercial confidentiality the FCO cannot give under exemption 13 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information individual sales figures.

Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the residential properties purchased by his Department since June 1997, and the total cash cost of each. [149857]

Mr. Rammell: Since June 1997 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has purchased the following residential properties:

Descriptions

Properties
1 April 1997 to 31 March 1998Antananarivo: Residence
Bridgetown: Staff house
Kyiv: Staff Flat
The Hague: Staff Flat
Vienna: UK Residence
1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999Montevideo: Staff Flat
Seoul: Staff house
1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000Budapest: Staff house
Georgetown: Residence
Gothenberg: Residence
Ottawa: Staff accommodation
1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001Antigua: Residence
Bucharest: Residence
Caracas: Staff Accommodation
Dublin: Residence
Dublin: Staff house
Ottawa: Staff house
Port of Spain: Staff house
Santiago: Staff House
Vilnius: Residence
Yerevan: Residence
1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002Berne: Staff House
Guatemala: Residence
Kyiv: Residence
Stockholm: Staff House
1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003New York: Residence
Durban: Staff House
Plymouth: Residence
1 April 2003 to dateSan Francisco: Residence
Total expenditure£28.5 million

26 Jan 2004 : Column 59W

The FCO is withholding information in individual purchase figures under exemption 12 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.


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