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Israeli Embassy Bombing

Rob Marris : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what relevant warnings from the Israeli Embassy in London were received by his Department in the month before 26 July 1994; and whether the warnings were passed by his Department to the courts which subsequently convicted Jawad Botmeh and Samar Alami. [86271]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Israeli Embassy made a representation for extra security to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 18 July 1994. I am assured that these were forwarded to the Diplomatic Protection Group, who are responsible for Embassy security, for action. I understand that the trial court and the Court of Appeal were aware of these facts.

Jeremy Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department's Ministers have signed PII certificates in relation to the bombings of the Israeli Embassy and Balfour House on 26 July 1994. [86602]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: At the time of the trial in 1996, the then Foreign Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind, signed a PII certificate in relation to the bombings of the Israeli Embassy and Balfour House.

Khmer Rouge

Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the UK ambassador to the UN voted in relation to the setting up of a tribunal to try former Khmer Rouge leaders; and if he will make a statement. [91069]

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Mr. Mike O'Brien: We support a UN-supported tribunal to bring to justice those Khmer Rouge leaders most responsible for the atrocities committed during their regime (1975–79). The UK abstained in a vote on the Khmer Rouge Tribunal Resolution at the 2002 General Assembly because of our concerns that Cambodia's commitment to the process appeared in doubt when it failed to co-sponsor the Resolution; and the UN Secretary General had expressed reservations on the Resolution's implementation. These concerns were shared by a number of other states who also abstained. However, we welcome the recent resumption of talks between Cambodian and United Nations negotiators in New York and remain prepared to offer advice and financial support for a UN-supported tribunal.

Mozambique

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many claims for property appropriated without compensation by the Mozambique Government since 1975 have been lodged with his Department; how many such claims have been settled; and what steps are being taken to secure the settlement of those claims still outstanding. [91896]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: 101 claims have been lodged with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for property appropriated without compensation by the Mozambique Government since 1975. None of these have been settled. The FCO has made many ministerial and diplomatic representations over the years to the Mozambique authorities about the expropriated properties and we will continue to look for opportunities to do so.

Pakistan

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent discussions he has had with the Pakistani authorities on its blasphemy laws; [92046]

(2) if he will make a statement on the situation of Christians in Pakistan. [92045]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We are concerned about any human rights violations in Pakistan. We have serious concerns about the situation of Christians, particularly because of the many attacks against them in the past year and the misuse of the blasphemy laws. We remain deeply concerned that the death penalty can be imposed for blasphemy. The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. On 15 July 2002 I raised our concerns directly with the Pakistani high commissioner in London. Together with our EU partners, we also regularly raise our concerns with the Pakistani authorities in Islamabad. We will continue to take every appropriate opportunity to urge Pakistan to pursue laws and practices which foster tolerance and mutual respect and to protect Christians and other religious minorities against discrimination, intimidation and attacks.

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Paper Supplies

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the suppliers are of his Department's (a) paper and (b) paper products. [91913]

Mr. Rammell: The FCO has two corporate contracts for its paper requirement. The first with Dixon and Roe for recycled copier paper and second with Premier Paper for higher-grade stationery paper. Other paper products (such as index cards, diaries, planners and post-it notes) are supplied in the main by Banner Supplies Limited (BSL). This company was awarded the supply contract following an EC competitive procurement tender run jointly by the FCO and MOD. On the very rare occasions when BSL are unable to meet our needs then local sources of supply are used.

Press Releases

Mr. Laws : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many press releases have been issued by his Department in each (a) year and (b) quarter from 1995–96 to 2002–03; and if he will make a statement. [92439]

Mr. Straw: Our records of the number of Foreign and Commonwealth Office press releases issued extend back only as far as May 1997. For the figures since May 1997, 1 refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Tayside North (Pete Wishart) on 12 June 2002, Official Report, columns 1269–70W.

During 2002 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office issued 637 press releases and has issued 25 since 1 January 2003.

Nigeria

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Nigerian authorities on the subject of religious conflict. [92047]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We remain in close touch with the Nigerian authorities on this issue. Officials from the British high commission in Abuja regularly visit the northern states where the majority of religious violence takes place and raise the matter of violence with the governors of the states concerned. In July last year, a British Government team specialising in conflict prevention visited Plateau state to inquire into the causes of violence there and discuss how the British Government might help in preventing further disturbances. The team convened a round-table discussion attended by both Christians and Muslims. We are also supporting the efforts of Coventry Cathedral's Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, who have been trying to build trust between the religious communities in Kaduna over the last year. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the authorities in Gujarat, India on the subject of violence against Christians. [92048]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We have had no discussions with the authorities in Gujarat at ministerial level. Officials have been in contact with the police authorities in

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Gujarat about the situation there. However, Ministers and officials have raised our concerns with the Government of India on a number of occasions since the violence began in February last year, although not specifically regarding violence against Christians. Most recently, I discussed Gujarat with Mr. I D Swami, the Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs, on 17 October 2002.

We remain very concerned about the welfare of many in Gujarat and continue to urge India to bring to justice the perpetrators of the violence.

Western Sahara

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive the UN Secretary General's proposals on the putative referendum on the future of the Western Sahara; and if he will make a statement. [92325]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: From 14 to 17 January 2003, James Baker, the United Nations Secretary General's Personal Envoy, was engaged in a series of meetings with the parties concerned, discussing ideas to resolve the dispute over Western Sahara. Once he has had the opportunity to consider the response of the parties he will make his proposals public.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made concerning the referendum on the future of Western Sahara to (a) the Government of Morocco and (b) the United Nations. [92640]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I discussed the future of Western Sahara with Mohammed Benaissa, the Moroccan Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in November 2002.

Officials maintain regular contact with the United Nations Secretariat country delegations on this subject. It is discussed annually during the General Assembly and more regularly by the Security Council.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Robert Mugabe and his government are guilty of genocide. [91264]

Mr. Rammell: It is unclear whether Mugabe could be considered to have committed genocide.

Much of the intimidation, political violence and withholding of food is directed against the opposition, the Movement for Democratic Change, and the areas where it has support.

Genocide has to be committed against a "national, ethnic, racial or religious group".

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe. [91818]

Mr. Rammell: The political, economic and humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with recent food riots and the alleged assault of two MDC MPs in police custody.

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