Written question asked by John Lyons (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 January 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 26 January 2005. It was answered by Denis MacShane (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 January 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will arrange to meet representatives of the other guarantors of Cyprus to discuss the future of the island.

Answer: Mr. Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange to meet representatives of the other guarantors of Cyprus to discuss the future of the island. [210063] Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly meets his Greek and Turkish counterparts. The Foreign Secretary met the Greek Foreign Minister on 2 December 2004, and met the Turkish Foreign Minister on 9 December 2004. On both occasions Cyprus was discussed, among other issues. The Government will continue to work with all the parties towards a just, viable and lasting Cyprus settlement and urges the two communities, and in particular the Greek Cypriot side, to demonstrate the necessary political will to that end. We stand ready to assist the UN Secretary-General in any new settlement process and fulfil our responsibilities as a Guarantor Power. In the meantime, we will continue to work to implement the EU's policy to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, in line with the appeal of the UN Secretary-General in his Report on his Mission of Good Offices of 28 May 2004.

Secondary information