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Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 23 July 2002
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
India
14. Mr. Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the High Commissioner for India to discuss the security situation there. [69590]
Mr. Straw: I last met the High Commissioner on 30 June.
I visited India and Pakistan on 18–20 July. After my meetings I said that we welcomed the steps taken by Pakistan to stop cross-border infiltration and Indian de-escalatory measures, but we remained deeply concerned about the military mobilisation on both sides of the border. I stressed the need for a permanent end to cross-border infiltration and the importance of the forthcoming Jammu & Kashmir elections being free, fair and inclusive. We will continue to work with our international partners to encourage India and Pakistan to find ways to return to productive dialogue on all the outstanding issues between them, including Kashmir.
The House should also know that I published revised travel advice yesterday which, because of the reduced tension between India and Pakistan, no longer advises British citizens to avoid travelling to India or those already in India to consider leaving. I have modified the travel advice for Pakistan, but this has to take account of the continuing internal terrorist threat.
Middle East
19. Ms Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role the Government are playing in securing peace in the middle east. [69595]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Her Majesty's Government remains closely engaged in efforts to end the violence and resume a political process leading to a final settlement. We are supervising the detention of six Palestinian detainees in Jericho, and stand ready to assist with Palestinian reform in whatever way we can. I discussed the issue with Palestinian and Israeli leaders when I visited the region between 1 and 3 July.
25. Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the present situation in the middle east peace process. [69601]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government are committed to a negotiated and comprehensive settlement between Israel and her Arab neighbours along the lines set out in the declaration made by European leaders at Seville on 21 June. We welcome the Statement of the Quartet (US, EU, UN and Russia), which reaffirmed the goal of a final Israeli-Palestinian settlement within three years. It stated
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that progress in the political, security, economic, humanitarian, and institution-building fields must proceed together. All parties have a role to play. The Palestinians must conduct security, political and economic reform, with an action plan agreed by the Quartet leading to a Palestinian state committed to combating terror. Israel must take immediate and concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable Palestinian state, including easing restrictions, releasing tax revenues, and freezing settlement activity consistent with the Mitchell Committee's recommendations. The UK will continue to offer political and practical assistance wherever possible.
28. Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is undertaking with Arab Governments to secure their help in the middle east peace process. [69606]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We welcomed the Arab peace initiative, adopted by Arab states in Beirut on 28 March. We welcome the role played by key Arab states in supporting the Quartet's Action Plan for Reform of the Palestinian Authority and Resumption of a Political Process. We regularly discuss the way forward with Arab leaders. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently met President Mubarak, King Abdullah, Prime Minister Hariri and Foreign Minister Maher. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is also in frequent contact with Arab leaders. We met Palestinian Minister for Planning and International Cooperation, Nabil Sha'ath, on 25 June. I met President Arafat and other Palestinian leaders when I visited the Palestinian Authority between 2 and 3 July.
35. Mr. Jon Owen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role the Government are playing in securing peace in the middle east. [69613]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Her Majesty's Government remain closely engaged in efforts to end the violence and resume a political process leading to a final settlement. We are supervising the detention of six Palestinian detainees in Jericho, and stand ready to assist with Palestinian reform in whatever way we can. I discussed the issue with Palestinian and Israeli leaders when I visited the region between 1 and 3 July.
EU Enlargement
20. Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on progress being made towards the enlargement of the EU. [69596]
Peter Hain: The Foreign Secretary and I have had regular discussions with all our EU counterparts to keep progress on enlargement on track.
EU Overseas Aid
21. Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts about the policy underlying the distribution of the EU overseas aid package. [69597]
Peter Hain: EU Foreign Ministers discussed the overseas aid package at the General Affairs Council on 18 February. We agreed on the need to make the EU's external actions, including its aid programmes, more targeted, effective and responsive.
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UN Peacekeeping Operations
22. Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of United Nations peacekeeping operations. [69598]
Mr. MacShane: The UN's involvement in peacekeeping and crisis management continues to be significant. There are 15 peacekeeping operations world wide, involving 45,145 troops, military observers and civilian police from 83 countries. Many of these operations are now in support of solutions to complex intra-state conflicts and tensions; many involve countries close to, or at risk of, collapse.
EU Presidency
23. James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Greek Government about their priorities for the EU presidency. [69599]
Peter Hain: We are in regular touch with our Greek partners. I am visiting Athens tomorrow. Their presidency priorities include enlargement, immigration, and economic reform.
Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Greek Government about their forthcoming EU presidency and EU enlargement. [69577]
Peter Hain: We are in regular touch with our Greek partners. I am visiting Athens tomorrow. Their presidency priorities include enlargement, immigration and economic reform.
Missile Defence
24. Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US administration regarding UK participation in the US missile defence programme. [69600]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK and the US administration have discussed over time issues relating to missile defence.
These include the threats posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles, and the role that missile defence could play in countering these threats. However, it remains the case that the US has not yet decided how it wishes to proceed with missile defence and has made no request for the use of facilities in the UK.
Chechnya
26. Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussion he has had with the Russian Government on Chechnya. [69603]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last raised the situation in Chechnya in June, when he discussed the human rights situation in the republic with the Russian Foreign Minister.
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Zimbabwe
27. Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the economic situation in Zimbabwe. [69604]
Mr. MacShane: What is happening in Zimbabwe is a man-made tragedy. The country is running out of food and its economy is imploding. Ultimately, Zimbabwe's only way back to sustainable development is through respect for the rule of law, a return to democratic principles and sensible economic policies.
European Union (Aspirant Countries)
29. Mr. Mike Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with leaders of countries seeking to join the EU; and if he will make a statement. [69607]
Peter Hain: The Foreign Secretary and I have had regular discussions with all our EU counterparts to keep progress on enlargement on track.
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