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Cyprus (EU Accession)
6. Mr. Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): What discussions he has had concerning the accession of Cyprus to the EU. [74912]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Ms Joyce Quin): My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Cyprus's EU accession with the Cypriot Foreign Minister when they met in November. He attended the EU Cyprus accession conference on
10 November, which took stock of the good progress made in negotiations so far. My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with colleagues from other EU member states on all aspects of the accession process, and there is also close and regular contact at official level.
Mr. Evans: Does the Minister agree that the complete shambles within the European Commission should not be allowed to stand in the way of EU expansion? Does she agree that the accession of Cyprus to the EU would benefit communities in both north and south Cyprus? Does she also agree that the fact that Cyprus has removed the new threat of placing S300s in Cyprus, although welcome, is not sufficient to enable progress toward a sustainable peace; and that we must look for new initiatives enabling both north and south to secure a sustainable future?
Ms Quin: I agree with the hon. Gentleman in respect of all three elements of his question. Whatever the state of affairs within the European Commission, we are keen that accession negotiations should not suffer; that is extremely important. The hon. Gentleman is also right to believe that both parts of the Cypriot community can benefit from accession to the EU, and I know that that view is shared by hon. Members on both sides of the House. However, he is also right to say that we must continually look for ways to take forward both the process of EU accession and the important process of seeking a settlement to the Cyprus problem. It is also right to say that we need to look continually for ways of taking the process forward, regarding both EU accession and seeking a settlement of the Cyprus problem.
Mr. Andrew Love (Edmonton): I congratulate my right hon. Friend on keeping the accession negotiations on track. Those negotiations have been bedevilled by the lack of progress in finding a resolution to the division of the island. What success has the special representative to Cyprus had in bringing the two communities together? Can my right hon. Friend give us some idea of what discussions have taken place with the United Nations or with others about restarting the talks between the two communities so that there may be a resolution to the problem of the island's division?
Ms Quin: The efforts of the special representative have been impressive and assiduous in seeking to make progress. However, greater political willingness must be shown--particularly in the north of Cyprus--regarding some of the bicommunal and bizonal activities that we believe are important in paving the way for the eventual reunification of the island. The efforts of that special representative are very important, but we must encourage all sides to participate actively in negotiations.
Mr. Ian Bruce (South Dorset): I am sure that the right hon. Lady will know that Turkey, with Greece and Britain, is a co-guarantor of Cyprus's becoming a single nation. What cards are the Government playing in telling Turkey that its accession to the European Union will always be blocked if it does not participate in a settlement of the Cyprus question? Can nothing be done to ensure that Turkey plays a constructive role in bringing together the two halves of Cyprus?
Ms Quin: As we know, Turkey has expressed an interest in attaining a closer relationship with the
European Union, and that must be viewed in the context of moving towards resolving the Cyprus issue. We have made it clear that Turkey does not have a veto on Cypriot accession to the European Union. However, we also believe that it is in the interests of both Cyprus and Turkey to be more positive in their approach to the European Union.Export Promotion
7. Mr. Michael J. Foster (Worcester): If he will make a statement on his Department's future role in export promotion. [74913]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Derek Fatchett): Following the Cabinet Secretary's review of export promotion, my right hon Friend the Foreign Secretary was delighted to announce on 12 March--also on behalf of the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry--the setting up of a new unified Foreign Office and DTI export promotion operation, British Trade International, under a single chief executive. I refer my hon Friend to that announcement.
Mr. Foster: I welcome the creation of British Trade International, which is a clear demonstration of the Government's commitment to business. What help will it provide to smaller manufacturing companies, such as Excel Automation in my constituency, which is seeking to expand its export market?
Mr. Fatchett: I appreciate my hon. Friend's comments about last week's announcement. One of the objectives of the new structure is to provide a unified system that will enable domestic companies to sell overseas. Assistance will be provided for United Kingdom companies, such as the one in Worcester mentioned by my hon. Friend, to export to any location around the world. We hope that that assistance will be much more efficient and targeted. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has announced additional measures to help to promote small businesses and assist with their export activities.
Mr. James Gray (North Wiltshire): Perhaps further evidence of the Government's commitment to exports is the fact that weapons sales to Indonesia have doubled since Labour came to office. Is that what the Government describe as an "ethical foreign policy"?
Mr. Fatchett: I am delighted that the hon. Gentleman has asked that question because it gives me an opportunity to lay to rest some of the myths that are circulating about arms sales under this Government. An annual report will be published shortly that will set out all the details. However, I assure the hon. Gentleman that no Hawks, armoured cars, water cannon, flame throwers or other equipment of that sort have been licensed by the Government for sale to Indonesia.
I have absolute confidence that, when the hon. Gentleman reads the annual report, he will see that each licence granted conforms totally to the criteria that we established in July 1997. The Government have followed those criteria--unlike the previous Conservative Government, who were prepared to arm Iraq without even bothering to tell the House.
Ethical Foreign Policies
8. Mr. Andrew Tyrie (Chichester): What discussions he has had with his opposite numbers in the G7 about co-operation to develop ethical foreign policies. [74914]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Tony Lloyd): We regularly discuss the promotion of human rights and democracy with our G8 partners. In London last May, G8 Foreign Ministers emphasised the universality of human rights and made a number of practical commitments to promote human rights world wide. The G8 also agreed action on development and debt relief, health, nuclear safety, terrorism, crime and the environment. We are continuing G8 discussions on those issues in the run-up to this year's summit in Cologne in June.
Mr. Tyrie: What work has the Minister done with fellow G8 members to advance the cause of human rights in China? Will the Government condemn the Chinese human rights record here today and at the meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva? Why has a leading human rights activist in China condemned the Government's ethical foreign policy as two-faced?
Mr. Lloyd: The hon. Gentleman will know that my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) made a clear public statement condemning the Chinese for abuse of human rights. There is no doubt of the Government's stance. There is equally no doubt that we discuss China, particularly with our European Union colleagues. I shall attend the meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in a few weeks, and there is no doubt that the role of China will figure in those deliberations.
Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow): Will the G8 re-examine the conditions on which money is lent for the construction of dams around the world--in particular, the money lent to Turkey and Syria for the construction of more and more dams that have reduced the Euphrates to a trickle? Winter snows and other adverse conditions mean that the Tigris is lower than ever it has been, with terrible consequences for an already desperate situation in Iraq.
Mr. Lloyd: The Government want to consider water systems more broadly, so my hon. Friend asks an important question which we shall certainly examine. I had perhaps over-anticipated my hon. Friend's question because I thought that he would ask about the Pergau dam scandal, in which the previous Government were prepared to prostitute this country's values in a dodgy deal.
Mr. Bowen Wells (Hertford and Stortford): Will the Minister of State and his G8 partners examine ethical foreign policy as regards the pursuit of peace in Sierra Leone? That state remains violent and conflict-riven, and our policy seems to be simply to support one aspect, one person and one president and not to encourage the pursuit of an ethical foreign policy to achieve peace in that country.
Mr. Lloyd: I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman is wrong. I remind him that President Kabbah is the democratically elected president of Sierra Leone. I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman is suggesting that we should dismiss President Kabbah. If so, he is misguided. When my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was in west Africa last week, he met President Kabbah, among others, and urged on him the need for a negotiated, inclusive settlement which will bring lasting peace to that country.
It is a matter of public record that while Britain has done more than any other country, apart from Nigeria, to try to resolve Sierra Leone's problems, we have actively been lobbying the rest of the world to make the same financial commitment as we have made. The £10 million that my right hon. Friend recently announced is already receiving backing in the international community. The House should welcome that.
Mr. Ernie Ross (Dundee, West):
Will my hon. Friend confirm that this year's agenda recreates universality of human rights and underlines partnership between non-G8 countries? In that context, will he join me in congratulating the people of Qatar on their successful municipal elections, which were held on 8 March under universal suffrage for all Qataris over the age of 18? Women were encouraged and promoted as candidates, there was a free, fair press, and international observers from the middle east, Europe and America ensured free and fair elections.
Mr. Lloyd:
My hon. Friend draws attention to a very important election for the House to examine. He could have gone on to say that women candidates took part freely in that election. The Qatar example is a significant and important signal to the rest of the world, especially the rest of the middle east. Given my hon. Friend's long and deep interest in the middle east and the respect with which he is held, not only in this House but throughout the region on these issues, that message will be particularly strong.
Dr. Jenny Tonge (Richmond Park):
Does the Minister agree that the significant factor in the waging of civil wars all over the world is the ready supply of arms, which is often in contradiction to an ethical foreign policy? Do the Government intend to support the German Government at this week's Co-Arm talks in their attempts to curb the activities of arms brokers?
Mr. Lloyd:
I agree with the hon. Lady that the ready supply of arms in different regions is a very important motor in the continuation of violent solutions to problems that, essentially, ought to be resolved by political means. This Government have certainly worked very hard in specific regions, and generally, to seek action to dry up supplies, especially of small arms which do so much damage. She will know that the results of consultation on the White Paper are being examined by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. We want to take forward discussion in Europe about how Europe can crack down on problems caused by European brokers in this very difficult, and sometimes very unpleasant, trade.
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