Oral Evidence May. 21 2024
Inquiry: Industrial policyFound: Yesterday, I was in Cyprus, talking with them about how they can change their economy.
Mentions:
1: Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Con - Life peer) There are not as many ships as I would like, but we have UK involvement in the Cyprus maritime corridor - Speech Link
May. 20 2024
Source Page: We urge Israel to let humanitarian aid enter Gaza through all crossings, including by reopening Rafah: UK statement at the UN Security CouncilFound: Second, we welcome the news that the Cyprus maritime aid corridor to Gaza is operational.
Mentions:
1: Andrew Mitchell (Con - Sutton Coldfield) confirm to the House that we have now successfully delivered British aid on to Gaza’s shore using the Cyprus - Speech Link
2: Richard Foord (LD - Tiverton and Honiton) The Cyprus maritime corridor is welcome, but it risks acting as a fig leaf for the fact that there is - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Con - Life peer) Indeed, for Op Tosca in Cyprus, three of the last rotations of our peacekeeping mission have been delivered - Speech Link
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, if he will make representations to his Greek counterpart on the removal of military personnel from Southern Cyprus.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We do not routinely comment on the activities of non-UK personnel. The UK actively supports peace and stability in Cyprus as a leading troop contributor to UNFICYP and through our support for the UN-led settlement process.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2023 to Question 3452 on Cyprus: Land Mines, what progress the Government has made on encouraging the Greek Cypriot administration to join efforts to de-mine the island of Cyprus.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK is unequivocal in its support for a mine-free Cyprus. As UN Security Council penholder on Cyprus and a leading troop contributor to United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), we led the drafting of UN Security Council Resolution 2723 in January to renew UNFICYP's mandate and welcomed its unanimous adoption. The resolution included language urging both leaders to overcome existing barriers and expedite demining progress in Cyprus. We engage all sides to encourage the flexibility needed to make progress on tangible cooperation now, and ultimately to reach a just and lasting Cyprus settlement.
Asked by: Sammy Wilson (Democratic Unionist Party - East Antrim)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what his Department's advice is on direct air travel to (a) Kosovo, (b) Taiwan, (c) Northern Cyprus and (d) other non-UN member states.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The FCDO publishes travel advice which provides guidance on the most relevant issues for British nationals visiting Kosovo, Taiwan and Cyprus, including the north of Cyprus. There are direct flights between the UK and Kosovo, and the UK and Taiwan. Under the Chicago Convention, direct flights are not permitted between the UK and the north of Cyprus. To allow otherwise would be counter to the UK's international obligations. The situations in Kosovo, Taiwan and Cyprus are different and require different approaches.
May. 17 2024
Source Page: UK aid delivered to Gaza shoreFound: This is the first consignment of UK aid to be delivered through the Cyprus maritime corridor, following
Asked by: Baroness Mobarik (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any information on the number of UK merchant ships that docked at (1) Gazimağusa, and (2) Berbera, seaports in each year since 2010; and why their policies towards both unrecognised countries differ in terms of their international investment.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No UK flagged vessels have docked at Famagusta (Gazimagusa) since 2018. One vessel docked five times at Berbera over the same period. We do not hold data before 2018. The situations in the north of Cyprus and Somaliland are different and require different approaches. The UK supports measures to promote economic development in both, whilst respecting UN Security Council Resolutions that limit links between the UK and the north of Cyprus.