Written answers

Wednesday, 17 May 2006

Department of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Conflicts

9:00 pm

Photo of Charlie O'ConnorCharlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding his endeavours and contacts in respect of the need to finally settle the Cyprus question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18570/06]

Photo of Dermot AhernDermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. The Government fully supports the UN Secretary General in this important work. In this context we welcome the appointment by the Secretary General of Mr Michael Moller of Denmark as UN Special Representative to Cyprus in January this year. Together with the Presidency and our EU partners we continue to maintain contacts with the UN and other parties on the Cyprus problem.

The last major effort for a settlement took place in the first half of 2004 and resulted in the referendums of 24 April 2004 on the Secretary General's proposals. Since that time there has been very little movement on the issue. On 28 February the Secretary General and President Tassos Papadopoulos of Cyprus met in Paris to review the situation and examine modalities for moving forward. They agreed that the resumption of the negotiating process within the framework of the good offices of the Secretary General must be timely and based on careful preparation.

The Secretary General and President Papadopoulos also met on 12 May in the margins of the EU-Latin America Summit meeting in Vienna to discuss the follow-up to the Paris meeting.

The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, are agreed on the importance of supporting the efforts of the UN Secretary General. A just and lasting settlement would contribute to peace, stability and harmonious relations in the region. We consistently make this clear in our contacts, both at political and official level, with the Government of Cyprus and others closely concerned with the issue.

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