Απόφαση Αγγλικού Εφετείου 19/1/2010 στην απόφαση Μελέτη Αποστολίδη εναντίον ζεύγους Οράμς.
Το Φόρειν ΄Οφις προσπάθησε να επιβληθεί στο Εφετείο προς όφελος των Τούρκων! Επιστολή προς τους Δικαστές Στην πολυσέλιδη απόφαση του Αγγλικού Εφετείου των 122 παραγράφων, σε δύο τουλάχιστον παραγράφους την παράγραφο 65 και την παράγραφο 116 υπάρχουν συγκεκριμένες αναφορές σε συγκεκριμένη επιστολή ημερομηνίας 20 Ιουλίου 2009, που έστειλε στους δικαστές η Βαρώνη Κλένις Κίννοκ, δηλαδή κατά την διάρκεια του μικρού διαστήματος που διετέλεσε υφυπουργός Ευρώπης. Σύμφωνα με όσα καταγράφει η απόφαση του Εφετείου, συνεπάγεται ότι η επιστολή Κίννοκ στάλθηκε με στόχο να επηρεάσει όντως την απόφαση του Δικαστηρίου υπέρ των θέσεων του Φόρειν ΄Οφις και κατά συνέπεια προς όφελος των Τούρκων.
Αυτό εξάγεται πολύ πιο καθαρά από το λεκτικό της παραγράφου 65. Η οποία αποκαλύπτει ότι η απαράδεκτη επιστολή/παρέμβαση Κίννοκ ζητούσε όπως μή γίνει δεκτή η απόφαση του Κυπριακού Δικαστηρίου γιατί θα επηρεαζόντουσαν οι διαπραγματεύσεις. Το Εφετείο, δίχως περιστροφές τονίζει ότι δεν μπορεί το Υπ. Εξωτερικών να επιβάλει την θέληση ή την γνώμη του στην Δικαιοσύνη.
Το Εφετείο προς τιμή του, εξαπέστειλε και αγνόησε με τον πλέον έντονο τρόπο τις υποδείξεις του Υπ. Εξωτερικών λέγοντας με άλλα λόγια, - δεν μας ενδιαφέρει ποσώς το τι ζητάτε, δεν μπορείτε να μας επιβάλλετε πολιτική και να μας καθοδηγείτε να μην εφαρμόσουμε την απόφαση - δηλαδή εκείνη του κυπριακού δικαστηρίου - εμείς εκπροσωπούμε την Δικαιοσύνη και βλέπουμε το θέμα καθαρά ως θέμα ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων.
Τονίζει η παράγραφος μεταξύ άλλων: “... The government cannot dictate to the court what public policy in the United Kingdom, as that expression is used in an international instrument such as the Regulation, is, and thereby direct the court not to enforce the judgement.”(Συμπτωματική ή όχι η ημερομηνία της επέμβασης Κίννοκ, ημέρα της τουρκικής εισβολής στην Κύπρο;) Τουρκική θέση – Βρετανική ταύτισηΔεν είναι επομένως καθόλου περίεργο που ο ψευδουπουργός εσωτερικών του κατοχικού καθεστώτος Ilkay Kamil δήλωσε, μετά την απόφαση του Αγγλικού Εφετείου, ότι αυτή δεν βοηθά στην λύση του Κυπριακού, αλλά μάλλον θα εμποδίσει τις ειρηνικές διαπραγματεύσεις...Να θυμίσουμε ότι η πάγια αυτή βρετανο-τουρκική αλαζωνική θέση εκφράζετο συχνά από τον Σερ Ντέιβιντ Χάνει, (αλλά και μέχρι σήμερα από το Φόρειν ΄Οφις) , ο οποίος σε ερωτήσεις ή συζητήσεις πάντα απαντούσε πως το ‘το Κυπριακό δεν θα λυθεί δια του νόμου’ αλλά με συνολική διευθέτηση. Και αυτό γιατί η ρατσιστική διζωνική δικοινοτική ομοσπονδία και η νομιμοποίηση των κουβαλητών εποίκων, με σεβασμό στα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα, την διεθνή νομιμότητα και την δημοκρατία, δεν μπορούν ούτε να εφαρμοστούν ούτε να νομιμοποιηθούν!
Η Βαρώνη Glenys Kinnock .H Glenis Kinnock είναι σύζυγος του πρώην ηγέτη των Εργατικών Νιλ Κίννοκ και από το 1994 μέχρι το 2009 ήταν Ευρωβουλευτής. Στον ανασχηματισμό του 2009 και αίφνης μετά την παραίτηση της υφυπουργού Κάρολαιν Φλίντ, η Κλένις Κίννοκ παραιτήθηκε αστραπιαία από Ευρωβουλευτής και την επομένη 30 Ιουνίου 2009 της δόθηκε από τον πρωθυπουργό Γκόρτον Μπράουν ο τίτλος της Βαρώνης για να μπορέσει να διοριστεί στην Κυβέρνηση. (Στην Βρετανία αν δεν είσαι μέλος μιας από τις Βουλές δεν μπορείς να διοριστείς στην κυβέρνηση). Αμέσως μετά, διορίστηκε υφυπουργός Ευρώπης αντικαθιστώντας την Κάρολαιν Φλίντ.
Στις 12 Οκτωβρίου 2009 όμως, μετακινήθηκε σε υφυπουργό με ευθύνες για την Αφρική, Καραβαική, Κεντρική Αφρική και Ηνωμένα ΄Εθνη και αντικατεστάθη από τον νυν υφυπουργό Κρίς Μπράιαντ.
Στην Βουλή Στις 19 Ιανουαρίου, την ίδια μέρα που το Εφετείο έδωσε την απόφαση του, ο Ανεξάρτητος βουλευτής Bob Spink ρώτησε στην Βουλή των Κοινοτήτων τον ηγέτη του Κοινοβουλίου, κατά πόσον γνωρίζει ότι η Βουλή αναμένει δήλωση από τον υφυπουργό του Υπ. Εξωτερικών και Κοινοπολιτείας για την απόφαση του Εφετείου υπέρ του κ. Αποστολίδη και εναντίον των Οράμς. Η οποία απόφαση, είπε, κατοχυρώνει τα ιδιοκτησιακά δικαιώματα των Κυπρίων προσφύγων. Πρέπει να έχουμε αυτή την δήλωση είπε, ούτως ώστε να μην κάνουν το ίδιο ακριβό λάθος και άλλοι Βρετανοί αγοράζοντας κατεχόμενες περιουσίες Κυπρίων που κατακρατούν οι Τούρκοι κατακτητές και οι οποίες πρέπει να επιστραφούν τους νόμιμους ιδιοκτήτες τους δίχως αποζημίωση. Ο ηγέτης του Κοινοβουλίου απαντώντας δήλωσε άγνοια. Απάντησε ο υφυπουργός Ευρώπης κ. Κρίς Μπράιαντ, και είπε πως θα ενημερώσουν το Σώμα το συντομότερο δυνατόν διότι η απόφαση μόλις είχε δοθεί εκείνο το πρωί και ούτε ο ίδιος ήταν καλά καλά ενημερωμένος.Την επομένη 20 Ιανουαρίου Κατά την διάρκεια συζήτησης για την Αιτή, άλλος βουλευτής ο Εργατικός ο Jim Sheridan με παρέμβασή του είπε ότι πολλές αθώες οικογένειες εκδιώχθηκαν από τις περιουσίες τους κατά την διάρκεια της κατοχής της βόρειας περιοχής της Κύπρου το 1974. Απευθυνόμενος προς τον υφυπουργό Ευρώπης κ. Κρίς Μπράιαντ, τον ρώτησε αν συμφωνεί ότι οποιαδήποτε ειρηνική διευθέτηση θα πρέπει να επιτρέψει σ΄αυτούς τους ανθρώπους να επιστρέψουν στις νόμιμες περιουσίες τους ή να αποζημειωθούν. Ο Κρίς Μπράιαντ με εμφανή την αμηχανία του, και δίχως καν να επικροτεί την απόφαση του Εφετείου (εξάλλου ο προιστάμενος του ΥΠΕΞ Ντέιβιντ Μίλλιπαντ στις 12/1/2010 πλάι στον Α. Νταβούτογλου στο Λονδίνο επικρότησε τις απαράδεκτες συνομοσπονδιακές προτάσεις που μετέφερε από την Άγκυρα ο Ταλάτ) απάντησε λέγοντας: “ Έχετε απόλυτο δίκαιο ότι ένα από τα θέματα κλειδιά θα είναι το περιουσιακό. Είναι γι΄αυτό που υποστηρίζουμε ένα ολόκληρωμένο - πακέτο λύσης για την Κύπρο. Στο τέλος, η λύση δεν πρέπει να είναι οραματισμός της Άγκυρας, της Αθήνας ή του Λονδίνου, πρέπει να είναι απόφαση των δύο πλευρών, την οποία στη συνέχεια όλοι στην Κύπρο να ψηφίσουν.
Η απόφαση του Εφετείου σήμερα στην υπόθεση Οράμς θα προκαλέσει μεγάλους προβληματισμούς τις μέρες που έρχονται.”
My hon. Friend is absolutely right that one of the key issues is going to be property. That is why we support α whole-package solution to Cyprus. In the end, the solution must not be dreamed up in Ankara, Athens or London; it must be a resolution of the two sides, which everybody in Cyprus can then vote for. The decision of the Court of Appeal today in the Orams case is going to provoke quite a lot of soul searching over the days to come”. Από την απάντηση του υφυπουργού συμπεραίνεται ότι η απόφαση δεν τους άρεσε και θα προσπαθήσουν να βρουν τρόπους υποβάθμισης και περιθωριοποίησής της μέσω πακέτου λύσης, πού πάντα επικαλούνται. Γι΄αυτό ρίχνουν την μπάλα στα χέρια των ιδίων των Κυπρίων. Αν και το τι συζητείται στις διαπραγματεύσεις είναι στην βάση του δικού τους ρατσιστικού Σχεδίου Ανάν, θα πρέπει να το δεχθούν οι ίδιοι οι Κύπριοι για να μην...ευθύνονται το Λονδίνο, η Άγκυρα ή η Αθήνα για τις καταπατήσεις των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων και ούτε να κατηγορούνται και οι ίδιοι για ασέβεια ή απείθεια προς το Δικαστήριο της ίδιας της χώρας τους (contempt of court) που επισύρει ποινή φυλάκισης...Η ασέβεια και απείθεια προς την απόφαση του Εφετείου επισύρει, βέβαια την ίδια ποινή φυλάκισης και για τους δικούς μας εν Κύπρω, όλους όσους θα φανεί ότι δεν την σέβονται ή την υποσκάπτουν...ΙστοσελίδαΕξάλλου στην ιστοσελίδα του Υπ. Εξωτερικών και Κοινοπολιτείας στην σελίδα για τις ταξιδιωτικές οδηγίες για την κάθε χώρα, και συγκεκριμένα στην σελίδα για την Κύπρο μέχρι αυτήν την στιγμή δεν έγινε καμία πρόσθεση και αναφορά στην απόφαση του Εφετείου. Οι συμβουλές που δίδονται παραμένουν οι ίδιες και παρόλον ότι έγιναν πρόσφατα ανανεώσεις, οι διορθώσεις δεν σχετίζονται με τις αγορές ακινήτων. (Αναμένεται ότι θα ακολουθήσουν σχετικές δηλώσεις στις 25 τρέχοντος στην Βουλή). Φανούλα ΑργυρούΕρευνήτρια/δημοσιογράφοςΛονδίνο21.1.2010 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bob SpinkOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I am most obliged. Have you had notice that a Minister will make an early statement to the House about today''s Court of Appeal judgment in favour of Meletios Apostolides and against Orams, which establishes enforceable property rights for Cypriot refugees? We should have such a statement so that no more British people make the expensive mistake of buying occupied Cypriot property from the Turkish occupiers-property that must be returned to the rightful owners without compensation.Mr. SpeakerWhat the hon. Gentleman has raised is, I am sure, a matter of great interest, and possibly also of considerable complexity. I have to admit that it is a matter on which my ignorance is unequalled by any other Member of the House. What is more, it is not obvious to me, as of this moment, that it constitutes a point of order, but the Minister for Europe is stirring from his seat, and I feel sure that we will hear his words of wisdom.Chris BryantWell, I do know slightly more about this subject that you do, Mr. Speaker, so might I help? The judgment was given only this morning; we hope to update the House as soon as possible.Mr. SpeakerWell, we seem to have exhausted points of order. We are all very grateful for that, and none more so than the person responsible for the ten-minute Bill, Mr. Frank Doran.
2010-01-19 - Topical QuestionsDebates (Main Chamber) - House Of Commons - House of CommonsT1. [311338] Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab/Co-op): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.David MilibandNo one in this House can fail to be moved by the plight of the Haitian people today. It is a human tragedy of enormous proportions, with more than 50,000 confirmed dead and 3 million in need of assistance-fully one third of the total population of that country. The UK Government have so far pledged £20 million, and the British public almost the same. UK search and rescue experts are working alongside teams from 27 countries. Yesterday, the EU pledged more than €345 million. An increasing amount of aid is reaching those who need it-a huge task given the extent of the damage to the limited infrastructure of Haiti. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development, the Prime Minister and I are working closely with the UN, whose lead co-ordinating effort is vital, and with key partners-above all, the US and Canada-to ensure that all necessary steps are taken for the effective delivery of aid.Meg MunnI declare an interest in relation to a recent visit to Iraq supported by the Kurdistan regional government.The forthcoming Iraqi elections are an important step in the development of Iraq, but so is the development of trade links. Will my hon. Friend agree to organise the first UK trade mission to Kurdistan, Iraq''s safest and most open region, to support its future development?Mr. Ivan LewisI begin by paying tribute to my hon. Friend for her long-standing interest in Kurdistan. Before Christmas I visited Iraq, and I went to Baghdad, Basra and Erbil. There is absolutely no doubt that there is a tremendous appetite for a much closer business and trading relationship and a normalisation of the economic relationship between Kurdistan and the United Kingdom, and I will certainly look into her specific proposal.T3. [311340] Andrew Selous (South-West Bedfordshire) (Con): On 1 December, the Foreign Secretary said that he would follow up the issue of the 8,000 desks provided by the United Nations for schoolchildren inGaza that cannot be assembled because Israel will not let in the screws and brackets. Could he kindly tell the House what follow-up action he has taken since then?David MilibandI cannot, but I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as we get an answer. I asked for the issue to be followed up, and I will certainly write to him and place a copy of the letter in the Library.T2. [311339] Stephen Pound (Ealing, North) (Lab): While I am sure you have received a blizzard of congratulations on your birthday today, Mr. Speaker, may I add my voice, particularly as I believe you share this glorious anniversary with three Conservative Members of Parliament and, possibly even more felicitously, with Dolly Parton?May I ask my hon. Friend what assessment he has made of the European arrest warrant as a counter-terrorism measure?Chris BryantHappy birthday, Mr. Speaker-I hope that that does not wind you up.My hon. Friend makes a serious point about the European arrest warrant, which is one of the most important crime prevention tools that we have in Europe. It proved vital following the 21 July attempted bombings, when we had to secure the arrest of a citizen in Italy. The only sadness is that the Conservative party does not support it.T4. [311341] Mr. Desmond Swayne (New Forest, West) (Con): On 3 January the Prime Minister announced with great fanfare the conference on Yemen, and this afternoon the Minister of State has given its importance further billing. However, we discovered in a written answer yesterday that the conference is likely to last two hours. Has the announcement been over-sexed just a little bit?David MilibandMy felicitations as well on your birthday, Mr. Speaker. I do not know whether it was the mention of Dolly Parton that excited the hon. Gentleman.The meeting on Yemen will bring together 21 countries including the United Kingdom. It will be a serious look at the security, economic and political issues in that country, and I hope that it will also lead to more cohesive international engagement with Yemen. The hon. Gentleman should welcome the meeting, as it will make a useful contribution to a dangerous situation.T5. [311342] Keith Vaz (Leicester, East) (Lab): I declare my interest in respect of Yemen and welcome the conference. However, what is the rationale behind the Department for Transport suspending direct flights between Sana''a and London? Surely this is the time when we should be engaging with the Yemeni Government and people, not isolating them by preventing them from flying direct to London.Mr. Ivan LewisI would lead a chorus of "For He''s a Jolly Good Fellow", Mr. Speaker, if it would guarantee unanimous support from the Opposition.My right hon. Friend raises an important issue, but the first responsibility of any Government is the security of its citizens. The Department for Transport has very good information that suggests that in that context, at the moment it is in the best interests of Yemen and of the UK for those flights to be suspended. However, I want to make it very clear that representatives of theBritish Government are currently in Yemen supporting the Yemeni Government and advising them about how they can enhance security measures at their airport to ensure that those flights can be resumed in future. Once we have a report back from that visit, we will be able to make decisions.Mr. William HagueI support what the Foreign Secretary said about the plight of the people of Haiti and the efforts made to alleviate it.Does the Foreign Secretary share our concern about recent developments in Iraq involving the disqualification from the forthcoming elections of large numbers of Sunni candidates on the grounds of their former membership of the Ba''ath party, possibly even including the current Defence Minister, who became a strong opponent of the Saddam regime? Would it not be deeply disturbing and dangerous if Iraq''s politics became once again more sharply sectarian? The United States is very active in trying to change that situation. Can the Foreign Secretary say what representations the British Government have made, and what representations they will be making, to the Iraqi Government?David MilibandIt has been a foundation of UK policy in Iraq over successive years to argue the case that Iraq needs to establish itself as a pluralist democracy in the middle east. It is very important that the sectarian potential of that country does not become the basis on which politics is organised.We view with genuine concern any attempt to restrict the candidates in the forthcoming March elections. In that context, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Lewis), was in Iraq just before Christmas and was able to discuss directly with Prime Minister Maliki the importance of opening up the democratic process. A very large number of candidates are putting themselves forward for election; as far as we are concerned, it should be as large as possible.Jim SheridanMany innocent families were forced off their properties during the 1974 occupation of northern Cyprus. Therefore, does my hon. Friend agree that any peace process must allow those people to go back to their legally owned homes or to get compensation?Chris BryantMy hon. Friend is absolutely right that one of the key issues is going to be property. That is why we support a whole-package solution to Cyprus. In the end, the solution must not be dreamed up in Ankara, Athens or London; it must be a resolution of the two sides, which everybody in Cyprus can then vote for. The decision of the Court of Appeal today in the Orams case is going to provoke quite a lot of soul searching over the days to come.T6. [311343] Mr. Andrew Mackay (Bracknell) (Con): Following the election of the new President in Croatia and the successful resolution of a territorial dispute with Slovenia, will the Foreign Secretary accept that there is no need for any further delay in Croatia becoming a member of the European Union, and will he and his fellow Foreign Ministers use their best offices to ensure that that happens as quickly as possible?David MilibandWe welcome the election of the new Croatian President, although I hope that on reflection, the right hon. Gentleman will realise that he slightly misspoke. There is a major outstanding issue before membership of the European Union, namely full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in respect of the situation in the 1990s. I spoke to the Croatian Foreign Minister last week and said that the UK would not block the opening of chapter 23, which is an important chapter in the renegotiations, but I emphasised to him that while we welcome what the Croatian Prime Minister has done in terms of setting up a taskforce to find the important lost documents that are at the heart of ICTY co-operation, it remains the responsibility of the Croatian authorities to pursue this case to the end.I hope the right hon. Gentleman recognises that that sort of conditionality is an important part of becoming a functioning member of the European Union. May I make this point, Mr. Speaker, because I think it important? The Croatian Foreign Minister said that he agreed with that approach, because he is helping to drive a process of reform in Croatia so that it can come to terms with its own past. That requires the sort of openness and transparency that is at the heart of the EU accession process.Mr. SpeakerOrder. It goes without saying that all the Foreign Secretary''s points are important to the House, but we must try to make a bit of progress.Rob MarrisThe Foreign Secretary today repeated that the UK Government favour sanctions against Iran because that country might be trying to develop nuclear weapons. However, the UK Government do not support sanctions against the state of Israel, which already has nuclear weapons. Will he please explain that contradiction?
2010-01-19 - Topical QuestionsDebates (Main Chamber) - House Of Commons - House of CommonsT1. [311338] Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab/Co-op): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.David MilibandNo one in this House can fail to be moved by the plight of the Haitian people today. It is a human tragedy of enormous proportions, with more than 50,000 confirmed dead and 3 million in need of assistance-fully one third of the total population of that country. The UK Government have so far pledged £20 million, and the British public almost the same. UK search and rescue experts are working alongside teams from 27 countries. Yesterday, the EU pledged more than €345 million. An increasing amount of aid is reaching those who need it-a huge task given the extent of the damage to the limited infrastructure of Haiti. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development, the Prime Minister and I are working closely with the UN, whose lead co-ordinating effort is vital, and with key partners-above all, the US and Canada-to ensure that all necessary steps are taken for the effective delivery of aid.Meg MunnI declare an interest in relation to a recent visit to Iraq supported by the Kurdistan regional government.The forthcoming Iraqi elections are an important step in the development of Iraq, but so is the development of trade links. Will my hon. Friend agree to organise the first UK trade mission to Kurdistan, Iraq''s safest and most open region, to support its future development?Mr. Ivan LewisI begin by paying tribute to my hon. Friend for her long-standing interest in Kurdistan. Before Christmas I visited Iraq, and I went to Baghdad, Basra and Erbil. There is absolutely no doubt that there is a tremendous appetite for a much closer business and trading relationship and a normalisation of the economic relationship between Kurdistan and the United Kingdom, and I will certainly look into her specific proposal.T3. [311340] Andrew Selous (South-West Bedfordshire) (Con): On 1 December, the Foreign Secretary said that he would follow up the issue of the 8,000 desks provided by the United Nations for schoolchildren inGaza that cannot be assembled because Israel will not let in the screws and brackets. Could he kindly tell the House what follow-up action he has taken since then?David MilibandI cannot, but I will write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as we get an answer. I asked for the issue to be followed up, and I will certainly write to him and place a copy of the letter in the Library.T2. [311339] Stephen Pound (Ealing, North) (Lab): While I am sure you have received a blizzard of congratulations on your birthday today, Mr. Speaker, may I add my voice, particularly as I believe you share this glorious anniversary with three Conservative Members of Parliament and, possibly even more felicitously, with Dolly Parton?May I ask my hon. Friend what assessment he has made of the European arrest warrant as a counter-terrorism measure?Chris BryantHappy birthday, Mr. Speaker-I hope that that does not wind you up.My hon. Friend makes a serious point about the European arrest warrant, which is one of the most important crime prevention tools that we have in Europe. It proved vital following the 21 July attempted bombings, when we had to secure the arrest of a citizen in Italy. The only sadness is that the Conservative party does not support it.T4. [311341] Mr. Desmond Swayne (New Forest, West) (Con): On 3 January the Prime Minister announced with great fanfare the conference on Yemen, and this afternoon the Minister of State has given its importance further billing. However, we discovered in a written answer yesterday that the conference is likely to last two hours. Has the announcement been over-sexed just a little bit?David MilibandMy felicitations as well on your birthday, Mr. Speaker. I do not know whether it was the mention of Dolly Parton that excited the hon. Gentleman.The meeting on Yemen will bring together 21 countries including the United Kingdom. It will be a serious look at the security, economic and political issues in that country, and I hope that it will also lead to more cohesive international engagement with Yemen. The hon. Gentleman should welcome the meeting, as it will make a useful contribution to a dangerous situation.T5. [311342] Keith Vaz (Leicester, East) (Lab): I declare my interest in respect of Yemen and welcome the conference. However, what is the rationale behind the Department for Transport suspending direct flights between Sana''a and London? Surely this is the time when we should be engaging with the Yemeni Government and people, not isolating them by preventing them from flying direct to London.Mr. Ivan LewisI would lead a chorus of "For He''s a Jolly Good Fellow", Mr. Speaker, if it would guarantee unanimous support from the Opposition.My right hon. Friend raises an important issue, but the first responsibility of any Government is the security of its citizens. The Department for Transport has very good information that suggests that in that context, at the moment it is in the best interests of Yemen and of the UK for those flights to be suspended. However, I want to make it very clear that representatives of theBritish Government are currently in Yemen supporting the Yemeni Government and advising them about how they can enhance security measures at their airport to ensure that those flights can be resumed in future. Once we have a report back from that visit, we will be able to make decisions.Mr. William HagueI support what the Foreign Secretary said about the plight of the people of Haiti and the efforts made to alleviate it.Does the Foreign Secretary share our concern about recent developments in Iraq involving the disqualification from the forthcoming elections of large numbers of Sunni candidates on the grounds of their former membership of the Ba''ath party, possibly even including the current Defence Minister, who became a strong opponent of the Saddam regime? Would it not be deeply disturbing and dangerous if Iraq''s politics became once again more sharply sectarian? The United States is very active in trying to change that situation. Can the Foreign Secretary say what representations the British Government have made, and what representations they will be making, to the Iraqi Government?David MilibandIt has been a foundation of UK policy in Iraq over successive years to argue the case that Iraq needs to establish itself as a pluralist democracy in the middle east. It is very important that the sectarian potential of that country does not become the basis on which politics is organised.We view with genuine concern any attempt to restrict the candidates in the forthcoming March elections. In that context, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Lewis), was in Iraq just before Christmas and was able to discuss directly with Prime Minister Maliki the importance of opening up the democratic process. A very large number of candidates are putting themselves forward for election; as far as we are concerned, it should be as large as possible.Jim SheridanMany innocent families were forced off their properties during the 1974 occupation of northern Cyprus. Therefore, does my hon. Friend agree that any peace process must allow those people to go back to their legally owned homes or to get compensation?Chris BryantMy hon. Friend is absolutely right that one of the key issues is going to be property. That is why we support a whole-package solution to Cyprus. In the end, the solution must not be dreamed up in Ankara, Athens or London; it must be a resolution of the two sides, which everybody in Cyprus can then vote for. The decision of the Court of Appeal today in the Orams case is going to provoke quite a lot of soul searching over the days to come.T6. [311343] Mr. Andrew Mackay (Bracknell) (Con): Following the election of the new President in Croatia and the successful resolution of a territorial dispute with Slovenia, will the Foreign Secretary accept that there is no need for any further delay in Croatia becoming a member of the European Union, and will he and his fellow Foreign Ministers use their best offices to ensure that that happens as quickly as possible?David MilibandWe welcome the election of the new Croatian President, although I hope that on reflection, the right hon. Gentleman will realise that he slightly misspoke. There is a major outstanding issue before membership of the European Union, namely full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in respect of the situation in the 1990s. I spoke to the Croatian Foreign Minister last week and said that the UK would not block the opening of chapter 23, which is an important chapter in the renegotiations, but I emphasised to him that while we welcome what the Croatian Prime Minister has done in terms of setting up a taskforce to find the important lost documents that are at the heart of ICTY co-operation, it remains the responsibility of the Croatian authorities to pursue this case to the end.I hope the right hon. Gentleman recognises that that sort of conditionality is an important part of becoming a functioning member of the European Union. May I make this point, Mr. Speaker, because I think it important? The Croatian Foreign Minister said that he agreed with that approach, because he is helping to drive a process of reform in Croatia so that it can come to terms with its own past. That requires the sort of openness and transparency that is at the heart of the EU accession process.Mr. SpeakerOrder. It goes without saying that all the Foreign Secretary''s points are important to the House, but we must try to make a bit of progress.Rob MarrisThe Foreign Secretary today repeated that the UK Government favour sanctions against Iran because that country might be trying to develop nuclear weapons. However, the UK Government do not support sanctions against the state of Israel, which already has nuclear weapons. Will he please explain that contradiction?
David Miliband
