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Sanctions and Arms Embargoes
Mr. Anthony D. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the sanctions and arms embargoes currently implemented by the United Kingdom. [93581]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: As of today's date, the United Kingdom implements Security Council resolutions which impose arms embargoes or wider sanctions regimes in relation to Angola, Iraq, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Government have also implemented an arms embargo on Ethiopia and Eritrea, called for in non-binding SCR 1227 (1998).
The United Kingdom implements additional sanctions imposed by the European Union of Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burma, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the Gambia, Libya and Sudan.
The UK currently implements two arms embargoes as a result of decisions by the OSCE--on Armenia and Azerbaijan.
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There is also a national arms embargo on Iran.
I shall keep the House informed of current sanctions regimes and arms embargoes and their scope on a yearly basis. All new sanctions or arms embargoes and any amendments to existing sanctions or arms embargoes will be announced at the time. We shall be laying a list of sanctions regimes and arms embargoes implemented by the UK in the Libraries of the Houses. A "Summary of Additional UK Restrictions on the Export of Strategic Goods" which includes details of additional national controls, will be annexed to this list. Both documents will shortly be available on the FCO website. These documents replace the "Summary of Government Commitments Regarding the Application of Strategic Export Controls", copies of which are currently in the Libraries of the Houses and on the FCO website. An updated version of the sanctions list will be laid in the Library annually or more frequently if policy changes require a revision.
Mr. Anthony D. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual report of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy will be available. [93582]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Copies of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy's annual report for 1998-99 will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses this week.
The foundation makes a valuable contribution to the promotion of democracy overseas. Its activities include providing assistance to political parties, parliaments, the independent media, trade unions, human rights groups, women's groups and other non-governmental organisations involved in political development.
In 1998-99, the foundation received £3,168,815 from the FCO, along with £211,256 from corporate and charity sources. With these funds it supported 274 new projects and managed another 223. It directed most of its funds to supporting democratic institutions in its priority areas, which are: Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Anglophone Africa. It also supported worthwhile projects in other parts of the world, such as South East Asia and the Middle-East.
In particular, the foundation initiated three important technical assistance projects in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nigeria and Indonesia, all of which are undergoing crucial transition processes towards fair and free democracy. The foundation can also pride itself on groundbreaking work in Qatar in the lead up to their Central Municipal Council elections, where women were given the vote and allowed to stand as candidates for the first time ever in the Gulf states. Most recently, the foundation has been preparing the ground to initiate projects in Kosovo, if and when this is appropriate.
Mr. Tony Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what United
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Kingdom specific export restrictions currently apply to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia; for what reasons; and what proposals the Government have to lift them. [93583]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
UK national export controls in general apply to all countries.
The only UK specific export control currently in place on Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia is Group 3, Part 1, Schedule 1 of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, which prohibits the export without an export licence of certain all-wheel drive utility vehicles capable of off-road use, heavy-duty recovery vehicles and drop-sided trucks.
This control was introduced to address concerns that such vehicles might be used by paramilitary groups against British troops deployed on peacekeeping duties in the former Yugoslavia.
We are currently taking steps to remove this control in respect of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, as we no longer perceive the uncontrolled export of these vehicles as a threat to British troops.
Mr. Tony Clarke:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent changes there have been to the EU arms embargo against Bosnia- Herzegovina; and if he will make a statement. [93584]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The Council of the European Union adopted on 19 July a Council Decision amending Common Position 96/184/CFSP to allow transfers of small arms to the police forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This decision was taken in order to promote peace and stability in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Member States are required to inform the Council of any transfers made under this exemption. The export of small arms to the police forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina remains licenseable under the terms of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended.
Mr. Anthony D. Wright:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serious offences were alleged to have been committed in 1998 by persons entitled to immunity. [93585]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
From a community of over 17,500 persons entitled to immunity, 21 alleged serious offences by such persons were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1998. "Serious offences" are defined in accordance with the 1985 White Paper on Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges, i.e., as any offence that would in certain circumstances carry a maximum penalty of 6 months or more imprisonment. The majority of alleged serious offences in 1998 involved driving under the influence of drink and shoplifting.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the nature of the briefings provided to Lord Levy prior to his recent visit to Syria and Jordan. [93054]
Mr. Robin Cook:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provided Lord Levy with background briefing on Syria and Jordan before his visit.
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Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral answer of 20 July 1999, Official Report, column 962, on the middle-east, if he will place in the Library the full texts of telegrams from British posts in Jordan and Syria concerning the diplomatic missions carried out by Lord Levy. [92941]
Mr. Robin Cook:
Under the Code of Practice on access to government information, exemption 2, internal telegrams are not made public. This is in line with previous government practice.
However, I can inform the hon. Member that our Ambassador in Amman reported that Lord Levy's was
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) of 13 July 1999, Official Report, column 140, on the Prime Minister's personal representative, if he will list Lord Levy's official engagements in Jordan and Syria. [92942]
Mr. Hoon:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maples) on 13 July 1999, Official Report, column 140.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 July 1999, Official Report, column 464, on ministerial visits, if he will list the dates on which he and his ministers plan to be absent from the office during the summer adjournment for reasons other than departmental business. [93089]
Mr. Robin Cook:
Ministers' holiday plans during the summer adjournment are personal and it is not the normal practice to disclose such information.
Mr. McNamara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 8 July 1999, Official Report, column 597, on the 55th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, what are the terms of reference of the Special Rapporteur study; and what measures he will take to promote public awareness of the study. [92931]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities recommended the appointment of a Special Rapporteur in August 1998. The mandate has to be endorsed by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), currently under way in Geneva. Subject to ECOSOC's approval, the Special Rapporteur will carry out a study on the concept practice of Affirmative Action to be presented to the Sub-Commission. The Special Rapporteur will invite comments from governments and NGOs preparing his study.
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"a highly successful visit which has given a valuable fillip to bilateral relations".
Our Ambassador in Damascus said he was "most grateful" to Lord Levy for undertaking a programme of "notably warm and substantive meetings".
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