Second Letter to the Chairman of the Committee
from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister of State for Europe
Thank you for your report of your visit to Turkey
and Cyprus in January this year. [4]I
welcome your valuable report, informing the House about your Committee's
findings on Turkey and Cyprus. I am sure it will be of great interest
to many Members.
TURKEY
As you know, Turkey is a key strategic partner
for the UK, and we remain committed to working for its EU accession.
As you will no doubt be aware, the domestic political situation
in Turkey has become more difficult since your visit. Parliamentary
elections will now take place on 22 July, four months earlier
than originally expected. We are following the Turkish elections
closely and are sure that the elections will take place according
to constitutional provisions, and in accordance with democracy
and the rule of law.
As you heard, Turkey is deeply disappointed
with the decision at the December GAERC, to freeze eight negotiation
chapters. But there was a great deal of support for Turkey at
the December Council and there was unanimous agreement that progress
can be made on 27 of the 35 areas of negotiation. This technical
process continues with one chapter opening at the end of March
this year and another two at the end of June.
As your report notes, Turkey has made progress
in reforms in recent years but, as stated in the European Commission's
annual report, the pace of reforms has slowed. I agree with this
assessment, which is in part a consequence of the focus on election
politics over the last few months. It will be crucial for the
Turkish Government to make swift progress in reforms after the
election period, and we will be urging them to do so. In particular
Turkey must make progress in the reforms for EU Accession and
to continue the improvement of minority rights in Turkey.
Finally one point of clarification: your report
states that two members of staff died in the bombing of the Consulate-General
in November 2003. In fact 10 members of staff died in the bombing;
two UK-based members of staff and eight locally-engaged members
of staff.
CYPRUS
The report rightly highlights that there has
been no real progress towards a settlement since the Committee's
last visit in 2005. The technical committees and working groups
established under the 8 July 2006 agreement are still not functioning
almost one year after the agreement was brokered. Given the constitutional
difficulties in Turkey, and the Presidential elections in Cyprus
in February, it is conceivable that the current stalemate will
extend into 2008. Unfortunately, there still remains mistrust
on both sides and a gulf between words and deeds which prevent
any constructive dialogue or demonstrable progress being made.
As the Secretary-General noted in his recent report to the Security
Council on Cyprus, throughout the period both sides have continued
to engage in mutual recriminations which can only be unhelpful.
The report demonstrates that issues such as
"settlers", diminishing crossings of the Green Line,
diverging economies, unchecked property development in the north,
and a lack of bi-communal activity, all impact on the search for
a settlement. It is true that facts are being created on the ground
on a daily basis which can only complicate the already complex
situation.
You will have heard first-hand the views of
both communities on issues such as the EU Presidency's attempts
to adopt a direct trade regulation, and direct flights to the
"TRNC". Despite efforts by the German Presidency to
have a trade regulation adopted, this has not so far proved possible.
Nevertheless, the UK will continue to support the efforts of future
Presidencies, most immediately the Portuguese. You rightly note
our significant Global Opportunities Fund—Reuniting Europe
programme, which channels around £500,000 per annum into
preparing the Turkish Cypriots for a settlement by helping them
meet EU standards. Since your visit to Cyprus, the application
for a permit to allow direct flights to northern Cyprus has been
refused by the Department for Transport. The application was rejected
as it was considered that to allow such flights would contravene
international and domestic legislation. That decision is currently
subject to judicial review.
As you know, the British government remains
committed to finding a comprehensive and durable solution that
benefits and is acceptable to both communities. I would echo the
language contained in the recently-adopted Security Council resolution
on Cyprus: "The status quo is unacceptable, time is
not on the side of a settlement, and negotiations on a final political
solution have been at an impasse for too long". A settlement
can only be achieved through substantive engagement by all sides
with the UNs efforts and through a process of sincere dialogue.
Taking steps on confidence building measures, such as opening
the Ledra Street and other crossings to allow greater movement
across the Green Line, are necessary and overdue. We will continue
to urge all parties to engage with the UN so that demonstrable
progress can be made in the coming months.
Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP
Minister of State for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth
Office
26 June 2007
4 Foreign Affairs Committee, Fifth Report of Session
2006-07, Visit to Turkey and Cyprus, HC473. Back
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