House of Commons Hansard Debates for 17 Feb 1995

Mr. Goodlad: The United Kingdom delegation to the summit will not include representatives of non-governmental organisations. However, the Trades Union Congress, along with several other UK-based NGOs are planning to send representatives to the summit.

Chatham House Conference

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what public or private institutions will be invited as full participants in

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the forthcoming Chatham House conference on promoting British values, civilisation and the English language.

Mr. Baldry: The conference on "Britain in the World" is being organised by the Royal Institute of International Affairs, in association with Her Majesty's Government, as part of the institute's 75th anniversary celebrations.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will give the opening speech. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will give a lunch-time address. The hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) will also speak. Other contributors will include Dr. Henry Kissinger; Mr. Peter Bonfield, Chairman of ICL; and Dr. Josef Joffe, foreign editor of the "Su ddeutsche Zeitung". The programme has been agreed jointly with the RIIA, which is inviting people from all walks of British life who will represent a wide range of interests and viewpoints. There will also be a smaller number of foreign guests.

Israel

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Israel concerning the treatment of Lebanese detainees being held in Khiam prison in southern Lebanon.

Mr. David Davis: We regularly raise our concerns about the treatment of Lebanese detainees being held in Khiam prison with the Israeli Government. We welcome recent reports that detainees are now being allowed visitors. However, we remain concerned about continued reports of ill treatment of detainees and urge those responsible for Khiam prison to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross full access.

Mr. Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the United Kingdom is taking, together with the other European Governments, to persuade Israel to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, in compliance with United Nations Security Council resolution No. 425.

Mr. David Davis: The United Kingdom has repeatedly called for the full implementation of Security Council resolution No. 425 and the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Lebanese soil. The Israeli Government are well aware of our views.

Russian Federation

Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations between the Western European Union and the Russian Federation.

Mr. Baldry: A range of informal links have been developed between the Western European Union and the Russian Federation. Foreign Minister Kozyrev addressed the Assembly of the Western European Union on 1 December last year.

UN Peacekeeping Missions

Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances it is the practice in a United Nations peacekeeping mission to install a radio station to communicate accurate information to the local population; and if he will make a statement on conclusions drawn on the desirability of such an action after the experiences of Rwanda and Somalia.

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Mr. Baldry: The United Nations has no set criteria for the establishment of a radio station in any peacekeeping operation. It is clear to the UN Secretary-General, however, that peacekeeping operations need an effective information capacity to enable them to explain their mandate to the population and, by providing a credible and impartial source of information, to counter misinformation disseminated about them. We agree with his view that radio is the most effective medium for this purpose.

Iran

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 13 February, Official Report, columns 519 20, what are the two exceptions which have received licence application approval for significant nuclear items destined for Iran; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. David Davis: The two exceptions for export licence approval for Iran were set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary's reply to the hon. Member for Finchley (Mr. Booth) on 1 March 1993, Official Report, column 8, namely that we should not

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approve licences for any goods or technology on the military or atomic energy lists--schedule 1, part 3, group 1 and 2-- of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992 (as amended) unless they are: (a) goods essential for the safety of civil aircraft and air traffic control systems;

(b) radioactive material in the form of sources for medical equipment and deuterium labelled compounds for medical use.

Iraqi British Interest Group

Mrs. Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if British officials in Amman have had meetings in the last 12 months with the Iraqi British Interest Group; and if British officials in Amman have assisted representatives of the Iraqi British Interest Group in the last 12 months.

Mr. David Davis: Officials in the embassy in Amman last had contact with the current head of the Iraqi British Interest Group, Mr. Stephen Crouch, in a private capacity in September 1994. They have not knowingly given any assistance to representatives of the Iraqi British Interest Group. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has only become aware of the existence of the group in the last few months.

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