The Prime Minister: …On enlargement, the European Council welcomed the fact that the first practical results have been reached in negotiations with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. It also welcomed progress made by Romania, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria. It welcomed the reactivation of Malta's application, and recognised the importance of implementing the European Union's strategy to prepare Turkey for membership. Work in all these areas will intensify next year.

Ms Quin: We remain firmly committed to supporting UN efforts towards a comprehensively political settlement in Cyprus. We warmly welcomed the UN Secretary- General's 30 September announcement of a process for on-island contacts with both parties, led by the UN Deputy Special Representative for Cyprus, Dame Ann Hercus, aimed at reducing tensions and promoting progress towards a just and lasting settlement. Dame Ann has secured the agreement of the two parties to treat discussions within this process as confidential. We respect this, and urge both sides to co-operate in a constructive and flexible manner with Dame Ann, with whom we maintain close contact through our High Commissioner in Nicosia.

O’Hara/Edward

"That this House extends a warm welcome to Mr A. Pouyouros, Mayor of Famagusta, Mr P. Tsentas, Mayor of Karavas, Mrs E. Leptos, Mayor of Kyrenia, Mr C. Frangoudes, Mayor of Kythrea and Mr. M Pilikos, Mayor of Lefkoniko; applauds their action in carrying to Westminster their petition on behalf of the human rights of their constituents who are refugees denied access to their homes in the occupied part of Cyprus; pledges its support for all initiatives to being about a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem; and looks forward to the day when all the citizens of Cyprus, whatever their ethnic origin, may once again live together peacefully in a free united Cyprus."