Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had discussions with his Turkish counterpart with regard to the issue of recognition of Cyprus by Turkey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25114/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which the situation in Cyprus has or is being resolved in conjunction with other possible negotiations such as enlargement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25473/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 159 together.

I last met the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2005 and he used the opportunity to discuss the Cyprus issue. On that occasion he made it clear that while Ireland did not believe recognition of Cyprus by Turkey should be a condition for starting accession negotiations, it will, however, be an absolute requirement for eventual accession by Turkey. Minister Ahern also reiterated Ireland's strong support for the UN process for a resolution of the Cyprus problem and in particular for the UN Secretary-General's Mission of Good Office.

The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. The EU enlargement process provided impetus for efforts towards a settlement, which were undertaken by the UN Secretary-General in the first half of 2004, during Ireland's EU Presidency. As a result of the referendums in Cyprus on 24 April 2004, the accession to the EU of a united Cyprus on 1 May 2004 was not possible. Since 1 May 2004, the Republic of Cyprus has been a Member State of the EU and, in the absence of a comprehensive settlement, the application of the laws and regulations of the Union to the northern part of the island is suspended.

In his most recent report on the UN operation in Cyprus, Secretary-General Annan emphasised the importance for the parties to resume contacts and to begin to think about how to re-engage in the search for a settlement. The Secretary-General's Special Representative, Michael Moeller, has engaged in a process aimed at encouraging renewed contacts. In this regard, the decision by both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to meet on 3 July next to discuss the missing persons issue is to be welcomed. The Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Gambari, will visit Cyprus, Greece and Turkey later in July to assess the political situation and the prospects for a full resumption of negotiations On 29 July 2005, as part of the preparations for the opening of Turkey-EU accession negotiations and in accordance with the conclusions of the December 2004 European Council, Turkey signed the Ankara Agreement Protocol to take account of the accession of the new Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus. At the same time, however, Turkey also issued a Declaration stating that its signature, ratification and implementation of the Protocol did not amount to recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.

In response to the Declaration, on 21 September 2005 the EU issued a Counter-Declaration recalling the status of the Republic of Cyprus as a Member State of the EU. The Counter-Declaration noted that recognition of all Member States, including, of course, Cyprus, is a necessary component of the accession process and underlined the importance the Union attaches to the normalisation of relations between Turkey and all Member States. The European Council, at its meeting on 16 June last, reviewed progress made in the Turkish reform process and welcomed the start of substantive accession negotiations with Turkey. The Council recalled that the pace of the negotiations will depend on Turkey's progress in preparing for accession measured against the requirements set out in the Negotiating Framework. This includes the fulfilment of Turkey's obligations under the Ankara Agreement Protocol. The European Council recalled that the Council will ensure, in the course of 2006, a follow up on the progress made on all the relevant issues included in the Counter-Declaration.