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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Middle East

11. Claire Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine. [98792]

Mr. Straw: A settlement of the dispute between the Israelis and the Palestinians would, we believe, enhance global security, including the security of both the immediate region and the United Kingdom. This is why the Prime Minister has led the way, through political and practical support for the Quartet, in working for renewed negotiation towards the realisation through the roadmap towards President Bush's vision of a two state solution in 2005.

20. Mr. Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the United States Government on establishing a Palestinian state; and if he will make a statement. [98802]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel is at the heart of President Bush's vision of a final settlement, as set out in his speech of 24 June 2002. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, FCO officials and I are in constant touch with US colleagues on how to realise

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that vision. We agree with them that the Quartet and its road map provide the right mechanism, and have given both our full support.

23. Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will table a resolution under chapter VII of the United Nations charter to impose a duty on Israel to halt and withdraw illegal settlements in the occupied territories. [98805]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We have no plans to table a UN Resolution on Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. Security Council Resolutions 446 and 465 state that they are illegal. The Government have made it clear that an early settlement freeze is essential to the continuing viability of the two-state solution.

Our priority for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be the implementation of those Security Council Resolutions already passed; most recently, Resolution 1435, which calls for a complete cessation of violence, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian cities and action by the Palestinian Authority to bring those responsible for acts of terror to justice. The UK played a leading role in the adoption of this resolution. We remain committed to further Security Council action, wherever this will be useful.

Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's activities in seeking a Middle East peace settlement. [98414]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We fully support the efforts of the Quartet to restart a peace process leading via the Roadmap it agreed on 20 December to a realisation in 2005 of President Bush's vision of a two-state solution. That support is both political and practical. We convened the London meeting on Palestinian reform and nation-building in January; it was a British initiative during the hiatus in Quartet activity caused by the Israeli election campaign. From 18–20 February we hosted meetings of the Ad-Hoc Liaison Committee and Task Force on Reform. We remain ready to do all we can to underpin and complement Quartet activity.

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for a peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians. [98798]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave earlier in the House today to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire.

Syria (Kidnapped Israeli Soldiers)

14. Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with President Assad of Syria regarding kidnapped Israeli soldiers. [98795]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I raised this issue with the Syrian Foreign Minister during the Syrian President's official visit to the UK on 16 to 18 December 2002.

Iraq

15. Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iraq. [98796]

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Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier in the House today by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake).

Zimbabwe

16. Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa on the search for a peaceful settlement to the Zimbabwe crisis. [98797]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We have regular contact with the South African Government and have shared with them our view of the problems in Zimbabwe. We have stressed our deep concern about the humanitarian situation. We have made our position clear: we want a return to good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister last discussed Zimbabwe with President Mbeki at Chequers on 1 February 2003.

Cyprus

17. Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the Annan plan for Cyprus. [98799]

Mr. MacShane: My hon. Friend's timely question enables me to commend to the House this morning's written statement on Cyprus by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary. He praised the UN Secretary-General's skilful moves to bring the Cyprus peace process to a head, and explained what Britain is doing to help the UN bring the parties to agreement. A copy of this written statement was placed in the Library of the House on 25 February 2003.

22. Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to promote a settlement in Cyprus. [98804]

Mr. MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today in the House to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Mr. Dismore).

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding his Department makes available for projects that involve members of the (a) Greek and (b) Turkish communities in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [98093]

Mr. MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides and administers two funds which finance projects in Cyprus.

In recent years, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's EU Action Plan, with a budget of £100,000 per annum has been used to finance projects such as EU accession seminars and training courses, for both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. These projects have been run in conjunction with the British Council and have been very successful.

Each year a portion of the Global Conflict Prevention Fund has also been allocated to fund projects such as training courses in both the north and the south of the island.

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The British High Commission in Nicosia has made a significant contribution to bringing Cypriots of both communities together in a number of bi-communal projects.

European Security and Defence Policy

18. Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his French and German counterparts to discuss EU foreign and security policy. [98800]

Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary most recently met his French and German counterparts to discuss EU Common Foreign and Security Policy on 17 February 2003.

19. Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the European Security and Defence Policy. [98801]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The comprehensive agreement between NATO and the EU, reached in December 2002, ensures that the European Security and Defence Policy of the EU will be based on close co-operation with NATO. The Government welcome this strategic partnership in crisis management. The EU and NATO are now finalising the detailed arrangements to give effect to this agreement. The EU has already expressed its willingness to take over from NATO the stabilisation mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Iran (Human Rights)

21. Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to raise the issue of human rights with his Iranian counterparts. [98803]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Her Majesty's Government have an ongoing dialogue with Iran on human rights. I and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary make a point of raising human rights whenever we see our Iranian counterparts and will continue to do so.

Asset Recycling Programme

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his latest estimate is of the proceeds to his Department from the asset re-cycling programme agreed with HM Treasury for the period 1999–2000 to 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [98440]

Mr. Rammell: The FCO achieved £90 million from recycling in the financial years 1999–2000 to 2001–02.

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