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Written Answers to Questions

Tuesday 10 December 2002

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Feroz Abbasi

14. Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects Mr. Feroz Abbasi, a constituent, will return to the UK; and whether Mr. Abbasi is being offered legal representation. [84334]

Mr. MacShane: We remain in regular contact with the US authorities over the situation of the British detainees at Guantanamo Bay. We have had no indication from the US authorities concerning Mr. Abbasi's return to the UK. Mr. Abbasi is not being offered access to legal representation at Guantanamo Bay.

Kashmir

15. Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Governments of India and Pakistan on Kashmir. [84335]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly raises our concerns in relation to Kashmir with the Governments of India and Pakistan, including during his most recent visit to the region on 18 to 20 July, and in his meetings with Indian Foreign Minister Sinha on 30 and 31 October in London, and with new Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri on 2 December in Bonn. Kashmir was also among the range of issues discussed during my visit to India on 16 to 20 October.

Iran

16. Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to help the Iranian authorities to improve their human rights record. [84336]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We frequently raise human rights issues with the Iranian authorities at all levels. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the subject with the Iranian Foreign Minister on 2 December.

We support the EU-Iran dialogue on human rights, with the aim of bringing about improvements in Iran's respect for human rights.

We support dialogue with practical bilateral assistance (#230,000 since last year) through NGOs, for the judiciary, Prison Service and growth of civil society.

Middle East Peace Process

17. Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of recent developments in Israel on the peace process. [84337]

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Mr. Mike O'Brien: We look to the next Israeli Government, whoever leads it, to engage with the Palestinians and the international community in the implementation of the Quartet roadmap within the timeframe set out by President Bush on 24 June.

26. James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the roadmap process for peace in the middle east. [84346]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Quartet (the US, EU, UN and Russia) are agreeing a roadmap for progress towards a comprehensive settlement by 2005. They will be meeting on 20 December to review progress. When the roadmap is published, we will work with the international community to implement it. A conference of the parties involved in the peace process should be a key element of that roadmap.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards establishing a Middle East Peace Conference to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. [84328]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Quartet (the US, EU, UN and Russia) are agreeing a roadmap for progress towards a comprehensive settlement by 2005. They will be meeting on 20 December to review progress. When the roadmap is published we will work with the international community to implement it. A conference of the parties involved in the peace process should be a key element of that roadmap.

Sudan

18. Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what help he is offering to further the reconciliation process in Sudan. [84338]

Mr. Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, North-West (Mr. Best).

No Fly Zones (Iraq)

19. Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on allied action in the event of Iraqi attack against allied airplanes in the no-fly zone. [84339]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Since late 1998, Iraq has waged a systematic campaign to shoot down allied aircraft patrolling the no-fly zones. This is contrary to international law and inconsistent with UN resolutions. We only take action to protect our aircrew. UK and US pilots are authorised to respond to Iraqi attack in self-defence.

Cyprus

20. Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UN plans for a settlement in Cyprus. [84340]

Mr. MacShane: I understand the United Nations has tabled today to the two leaders in Cyprus an adjustment to their proposal of 11 November for a settlement to the

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Cyprus problem. We fully support the United Nations' efforts to secure a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in Cyprus.

We now have within grasp an historic opportunity to reunite Cyprus, and to invite a reunited Cyprus to accede to the EU at the Copenhagen European Council this week.

I urge the two leaders not to let this opportunity slip between their fingers.

Mr. Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the removal of Turkish troops from Cyprus as part of a settlement. [84357]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government support the UN proposals for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, which allow for there to be between 1,000 and 9,999 troops from both Greece and Turkey on the island. It is of course for the two sides in Cyprus to agree a settlement, but we believe the UN proposals to be workable and fair.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department provides to UK nationals of the Greek Cypriot community wishing to claim compensation for loss of land incurred as a consequence of the 1974 invasion; and if he will make a statement. [85380]

Mr. Straw: The proposals from the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan for a comprehensive settlement of Cyprus include arrangements for compensation to those who lost land in 1974. Her Majesty's Government are strongly urging both sides to settle on the basis of the UN plan. When, and if, a settlement has been agreed Her Majesty's Government will ensure that UK citizens who may qualify for compensation are properly informed.

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is with regard to the granting of compensation to those Greek Cypriots who lost land as a consequence of the 1974 invasion; and if he will make a statement. [85381]

Mr. Straw: The Government fully support the UN proposal for a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus Problem. Our aim is for a reunited Cyprus to be invited, at the Copenhagen European Council, to accede to the EU. We are urging both sides to come to a settlement before 12 December.

The UN proposals contain provisions on the four core issues, including property and territory, which involve difficult compromises on both sides. While it is for the two sides in Cyprus to agree on details, the Government are of the view that the UN Secretary-General's proposals protect the interests of both sides and are a basis for agreement.

Taiwan

21. David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the Government of the People's Republic of China about Taiwan. [84341]

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Mr. Rammell: On 15 July, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the Chinese Foreign Minister that our position on Taiwan had not changed. We acknowledged the Chinese position that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China, but we conducted discussions with the Taiwanese authorities on WTO-related trade issues.

West Africa

22. Mr. Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of France on relations between the UK and France in West Africa. [84342]

Mr. Rammell: In September at the UN General Assembly, the Foreign Secretary and his French counterpart, Mr. Dominique De Villepin, jointly hosted a breakfast seminar on XNew Partnership for Africa's Development" (NEPAD) with Foreign Ministers from 10 African countries.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last met Mr. De Villepin on 7 October to discuss the strengthening of the St. Malo accord and Franco-British co-operation in Africa. The Foreign Secretary thanked Mr. De Villepin for French assistance in evacuating British nationals caught up in the crisis in Ivory Coast.

This discussion also touched on issues such as further practical co-operation in the areas of conflict management, and the implementation of the peace and security aspects of the G8 Africa Action Plan.

Furthermore, the Foreign Secretary has regular exchanges with Mr. De Villepin on a range of African issues, either by telephone or correspondence.

Our two countries are working together in the United Nations and through the European Union to ensure an holistic and strategic approach by the international community to conflict management in Africa. Indeed, we aim to further cement our co-operation in Africa at the Franco-British summit early next year.


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