Cyprus Green Line

EDM number 1116 in 2002-03, proposed by Andrew Dismore on 30/04/2003.

That this House welcomes the opening of the Green Line in Cyprus from 23rd April allowing thousands of Greek and Turkish Cypriots to cross to the other side to visit towns, villages, homes and friends for the first time for nearly 29 years and the announcement by the Cyprus Government of a package designed to improve conditions for the Turkish Cypriots; believes that the warmth of the hospitality received puts the lie to any claim that Greek and Turkish Cypriots cannot live together in a common country in the near future; notes that this partial lifting of restrictions follows the signing by president Papadopoulous at the Athens Summit on 16th April of the EU Accession Treaty, the huge Turkish Cypriot demonstrations in favour of a settlement and EU membership and the creative work of many bicommunal groups in preparing the ground for reunification; concludes that this reinforces the need, rather than substitutes, for a political settlement; and therefore urges Her Majesty's Government, working within the EU and the UN, to support this process of reconciliation, and work with the new government in Turkey in its attempt to make progress towards a Cyprus solution and its own route to EU membership, so that a permanent solution can be reached long before 1st May 2004 and a reunited Cyprus can join the European Union.

This motion has been signed by a total of 48 MPs, 1 of these signatures have been withdrawn.