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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Iran
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of stockpiled (a) chemical weapons with blister, blood and choking agents and (b) bombs and artillery shells for the agents' delivery being held by Iran. [104783]
Mr. Hain: In conjunction with other Government Departments we regularly assess the status of a number of countries' stockpiles of chemical weapons and the equipment associated with its delivery. Such assessments draw heavily on intelligence sources and we are therefore unable to comment further.
Mr. Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the long-range ballistic missile capability of Iran and its effect on the balance of power in the region. [104997]
Mr. Hain: We regularly discuss proliferation issues with Iran and have frequently expressed our concern about Iranian attempts to develop ballistic missile systems. We remain particularly concerned by Iran's development of the Shahab-3 ballistic missile. Such a system could pose a threat to stability in the region.
Iran is not the only country in the region to possess such technology, and we understand Iran's legitimate security concerns. Despite this we continue to urge Iran to refrain from the development of ballistic missiles.
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the progress made by Iran towards the acquisition of non-conventional weapons. [104996]
Mr. Hain:
In conjunction with other Government Departments, we regularly assess the status of efforts by a number of countries to develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. Such assessments draw heavily on intelligence sources and we are therefore unable to comment further.
Iran is a Non-Nuclear-Weapon State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. We continue to encourage Iran to respect these treaties and to comply fully with its obligations under them.
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Iranian President is in control of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence; [105000]
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Mr. Hain:
The internal workings of the Iranian Government are a matter for the Iranian people. As far as our dealings with Iran are concerned, President Khatami is the head of the Iranian Government, with responsibility for all Ministries within that Government.
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the role of (a) the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and (b) the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security in acts of terror. [105001]
Mr. Battle:
This Government condemn terrorism in all its forms. Any such specific assessments could only come from intelligence sources and would, therefore, be exempted from disclosure under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to Annexe 5, Paragraph 3 of the Common Strategy for the Ukraine agreed at the Helsinki European Council, when and where the Partnership Agreement with the Ukraine was negotiated; when it came or will come into effect; who were its signatories; and to what parliamentary procedures it has been or will be subject. [105082]
Mr. Vaz:
The EU Partnership and Co-operation Agreement with Ukraine was negotiated in Brussels during 1993-94 and signed on 14 June 1994. It came into force on 1 March 1998 after ratification by all parties to the PCA: Ukraine, the 15 EU members states, the European Community, the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of Her Majesty's Ambassador in Kiev in implementing Her Majesty's Government's policy on relations between the United Kingdom and Ukraine. [105127]
Mr. Vaz:
Her Majesty's Ambassador in Kiev is charged with promoting the interests of the United Kingdom in Ukraine. The Ambassador plays a central role in pursuing Her Majesty's Government's policy, explaining that policy to the Government of Ukraine, and advising Her Majesty's Government on developments in Ukraine.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 13 December 1999, Official Report, column 19W, on the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, if he will make a statement on the application of the Court's jurisdiction to those Member States which had not been party to any decision of the European Council taken under article 23 of the consolidated Treaty on European Union. [105133]
Mr. Vaz:
Article 23 of the consolidated Treaty on European Union is not relevant to the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, which is governed by Article 36 of the Statute of the Court.
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Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requirements are placed on applicants for membership of the European Union as regards accepting all the currently applicable decisions and conclusions of European Councils; and what the basis is for such requirements. [105128]
Mr. Vaz:
In order to become members of the EU, applicants must meet the criteria agreed at the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 (annexed).
At the opening of the accession negotiations with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia on 31 March 1998, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, representing the Presidency, laid down the principles for negotiation, emphasising the necessity of
Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 10 January 2000, Official Report, column 31W, on the Ilisu Dam, what specific issues were raised by the Syrian Ambassador about the Ilisu Dam at his meeting with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 23 December. [104853R]
Mr. Hain:
The Syrian Ambassador asked the FCO to take full account of the impact of the Ilisu Dam project on the Syrian economy and people, on relations between Syria and Turkey, and on legal obligations.
These issues are reflected in the statement by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 21 December, which outlined the UK's four key concerns, including the need for an assurance that adequate downstream water flows be maintained at all times.
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a copy of the testimony of the Co-ordinator for Counter- terrorism in the US State Department before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 2 November 1999; and if he will make a statement. [105002]
Mr. Battle:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a copy of the State Department's testimony. We liaise closely with the United States on counter- terrorism issues both bilaterally and in international fora, such as the G8.
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Mr. Jenkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what goods on the UK Military List have recently been approved for export to Iraq. [106111]
Mr. Hain:
Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a licence to export 160 protective vests to Iraq for use by UN personnel in a humanitarian demining programme. The export of the equipment to Iraq was approved under the oil for Food Programme by the UN Sanctions Committee.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those properties held by his Department and agencies responsible to him which are (a) wholly and (b) mainly unoccupied at present, giving locations and when they became so unoccupied in each case. [105302]
Mr. Battle:
The following properties are wholly unoccupied:
(2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the Iranian President is in control of Iran's security services. [104999]
"full acceptance of the actual and potential rights and obligations attaching to the Union system and its institutional framework, known as the 'acquis' of the Union".
This includes the decisions and conclusions of European Councils. The applicant's acceptance of the 'acquis' may give rise to technical adjustments, and exceptionally to non-permanent transitional measures. The same principles will govern the accession negotiations with Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovakia, which will begin in February 2000.
Frankfurt former Residence--vacant since 1998
Jakarta former Residence--vacant since 1996
Plymouth former Residence--vacant since 1995 (owned by Government of Montserrat)
St. Johns former Residence--vacant since 1999
Tripoli Offices--vacant since 1984.
The following properties are mainly unoccupied:
Baghdad Offices--since 1991
Ho Chi Minh City former Residence--since 1993
Kabul Offices--since 1992
Old Admiralty Building, London--since 1999.
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