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Middle East Peace Process
17. Mr. Simon Coombs: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new initiatives he is planning to assist the middle east peace process. [18313]
Mr. Hanley: We will continue to support the middle east peace process through our close contacts with all the parties involved. The UK played a leading role in the United Nations Security Council debate on 6 March, and on 10 March my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed with the United States Secretary of State how the international community could lend support most effectively to the peace process. With our full backing, the EU special envoy, Miguel Moratinos, has built up a constructive dialogue with both parties.
Mr. Coombs: Does my right hon. Friend agree that, whereas Israel is a secure and mature democracy, alongside it, Lebanon is a country with a democratic tradition and a strong desire for a democratic future which is frustrated at the moment by the fact that, unlike Israel, which is secure militarily within its own borders, it has not one, but two, occupying armies in different parts of
the country? What further steps does my right hon. Friend believe he, with others, can take to try to unscramble the impossibly complicated situation that exists in the Lebanon, building on the Wye plantation discussions?
Mr. Hanley: My hon. Friend makes the important point that many countries in the region need a better future--and, indeed, a better present. Young Israelis are losing their lives in southern Lebanon nearly every day--certainly every week. I know that Israel wants a comprehensive peace in the region as much as anyone. Lebanon wants it as well. Prime Minister Hariri told me when I was last in Beirut that, while there is a great desire for peace in Lebanon, they want peace at the same time as the Syrian track is concluded. I hope that there will be an early resumption of talks on the Syrian track, building--as my hon. Friend said--on the progress that was achieved at the Wye plantation.
Mr. Ernie Ross: The Minister will recall that, while we were discussing the EU-Israel association agreement in the Delegated Legislation Committee, the Israeli Cabinet was meeting to decide to go ahead with the Har Homa settlement. Many of us said at the time that the agreement should include a monitoring capacity or it would lead to nothing. Has the Minister read reports that the Israelis raided the offices of the National Democratic Institute in East Jerusalem, which is affiliated with the Democratic party in the United States of America? That shows that the Israelis cannot tell friend from foe, and emphasises the need for a monitoring capacity. Will he also confirm that our excellent consul general in Jerusalem will attend the discussions in Gaza this weekend called by Yasser Arafat in order to build on the peace process?
Mr. Hanley: I think that I can take hon. Members on this side of the House with me in paying tribute to the work of the hon. Gentleman and others on the Palestinian cause and the cause of peace generally in that region.
I have talked about Har Homa in forthright terms, but we must make more progress on redeployment in the interim agreement. I believe that we should see more progress on the airport and the port in Gaza, safe passage between Gaza and the west bank, more extensive redeployment in the second and third phases than we have seen so far, and a lifting of barriers to the Palestinians generally. That would improve the economy, which would help Israeli security. As I have said before, I think that Har Homa is a serious problem that must be addressed. It is a danger to peace.
EU Political Co-operation
18. Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are his main objectives in respect of political co-operation for the forthcoming European Council meeting in Amsterdam. [18314]
Mr. David Davis: We will want to reach agreement in Amsterdam on a range of practical measures in the intergovernmental conference, which are designed to improve the effectiveness of political co-operation.
Mr. Whittingdale: Does my hon. Friend agree that the horrifying levels of unemployment afflicting Germany
and France are proof of the total failure of the European social model? Will he continue to reject that model? Will he confirm that the Government are determined to retain full control of our economic and employment policies?
Mr. Davis: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The tragedies in the German employment market and recent events in Belgium and France are cause for great regret. That is a lesson for all of us, which is not lost on Toyota--which Labour Members like to quote--Nissan, or the German head of Jaguar. They all recognise the dangers of the social chapter, the problems that it would cause our economic and employment policies, and the consequences of relinquishing policy in an area where one has succeeded to people who have failed.
Mr. Robin Cook: Has the Minister seen the letter, which appeared in yesterday's Financial Times, from more than 20 leading industrialists expressing their dismay at an arm's-length policy towards Europe? Is he aware that today's Financial Times carries two letters: one from the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, saying that the industrialists were entirely right; another from the hon. Member for Stafford (Mr. Cash), saying that it was all empty rhetoric and bogus fears? With which of those Conservative views does he agree--or will he pretend that he agrees with both of them?
Mr. Davis: If the right hon. Gentleman had listened to the radio yesterday, he would have heard my view about the letter. It is very straightforward. No one challenges the fact that the single market--which, after all, this Government virtually invented and pushed through the European Union--is of value to Britain, and of more value to Britain than any other country because Conservative policies have produced our economic success and given us the ability to exploit that market.
However, a number of people, including, I am sure, the right hon. Gentleman, tried to represent that concern about leaving Europe as a challenge to deal with the political threat that Europe makes to the sovereignty of Britain. We can deal with that threat through our robust negotiating stance without jeopardising the major advantage that we get from Europe and the economic opportunities that come from it.
Mr. Legg:
Will my hon. Friend confirm that any delay to the timetable for monetary union that involved monetary union taking place later than 1 January 1999 would require a treaty amendment?
Mr. Tony Banks:
The answer is no.
Mr. Davis:
I am not sure that the hon. Gentleman is correct. Our view is that we must, first and foremost, ensure that any monetary union that goes forward works. If there is any fudging on it, we should not go forward.
19. Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Nigeria. [18315]
Dr. Liam Fox:
We remain extremely concerned about the human rights situation in Nigeria.
Mr. Burden:
I welcome the Government's expression of concern, which so many of us feel about the human
It is important that there is consistency on the part of the British Government. Will the Minister make representations to the Home Office? It sits ill with his statement that the Home Office is appealing against the decision of an adjudicator to grant political asylum to a torture victim from Nigeria. The fact that he was tortured was established by independent medical evidence. The Home Office should not attempt to deport someone who was the victim of torture by that regime.
Dr. Fox:
You, Madam Speaker, would not, I am sure, allow me to trespass on Home Office territory. On the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question, we fully support the Commonwealth ministerial action group position and regularly reinforce that message to Nigeria. It calls for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Chief Abiola; the restoration of a democracy in which all can participate; the early resolution of the case of the Ogoni 19; and a review of prison conditions.
We want those steps to be taken as soon as possible. The Government are deeply disappointed that the two United Nations Commission for Human Rights thematic rapporteurs have not been able to visit Nigeria and fulfil their mandate. That causes us concern. We will consider with our EU, Commonwealth and other partners the scope for further action at the UN Commission for Human Rights in the light of the report, when we have it.
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The Opposition welcome the Minister's remarks about political prisoners. I invite him once again to address the legitimate question raised by hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden). If the Foreign Office view is that the situation in Nigeria is bad and deteriorating, it is incomprehensible that the Home Office--part of the same Government--is not prepared to take the same view in respect of those fleeing political pressures in Nigeria.
Dr. Fox:
The job of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in this case is to make it clear to Nigeria what we think about the current situation there. We are extremely concerned about the human rights situation. I have laid out the position that we pushed through CMAG, and we intend to continue to push that position. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman raises his question with the Home Office and the Ministers who have responsibility for that matter.
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