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8 Apr 2003 : Column 189W—continued
Family Visitor Visas
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when entry clearance posts began electronic compilation of statistics in relation to family visitor visa (a) applications, (b) decisions and (c) appeals. [106528]
Mr. Rammell: The majority of posts were able to start compiling statistical information electronically on family visitor visa applications, decisions and appeals on Monday 2 October 2000. However a small percentage did not begin electronic compilation immediately. I will write to my hon. Friend once information regarding these posts has been collected.
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Graham Island
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Graham Island. [106862]
Mr. MacShane: Graham Island is the tip of a small volcano 30 miles off the coast of Sicily which emerges from the sea occasionally for short periods. In 1831 the Royal Navy claimed it but in 1832 it re-submerged. We doubt whether the 1831 claim subsists and have never sought to revive it. We understand that the Italian government claims the island.
International Criminal Court
Mr. Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the level of support given to the International Criminal Court by the UK. [106137]
Mr. Rammell: The UK is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court. It is, after Germany and France, the third largest contributor to the first budget of the Court, our assessed share being 11.4 per cent. or euros 3,740,632 (approx £2.5 million). Mr. Justice Adrian Fulford was sworn-in as a Judge of the ICC on 11 March 2003. We contribute both unilaterally and through the EU Commission to the funding of a number of NGOs working in support of the court.
I attended the inauguration of the ICC.
Politically, the UK continues to encourage other states to ratify or accede to the ICC, both bilaterally and with EU partners in support of the EU Common Position on the ICC.
Iraqi Civilian Deaths
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to issue an apology to members of families of Iraqi civilians killed by Coalition forces. [106414]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Coalition forces take great care to target only regime and military targets and to minimise civilian casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure. It is impossible to guarantee that no civilians will be killed or injured. We have and continue to express our regret and sympathy for the deaths of any civilians. Our quarrel is not with the people of Iraq.
Kashmir
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent action his Department has taken to try to find a solution to the Indo-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir. [106537]
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. On 24 March the Foreign Secretary telephoned the Indian Foreign Minister to condemn the 23 March massacre of innocent civilians in Kashmir, and to express condolences to the victims' families. We condemn all terrorism wherever it occurs and whatever its purported justification. Violence will not solve Kashmir's problems. While the dispute between India and Pakistan is at root a bilateral one, the United
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Kingdom and our international partners stand ready to help both countries to start a process aimed at building confidence, normalising bilateral relations and resolving outstanding differences, including Kashmir.
In a 27 March joint United States—United Kingdom statement on the violence in Kashmir, the Foreign Secretary and the US Secretary of State Colin L. Powell encouraged both sides to consider immediately implementing a ceasefire and taking other active steps to reduce tension including by moves within the South Asia Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) context. The differences between India and Pakistan can only be resolved through peaceful means and engagement.
Middle East
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Consul General was part of the European Consul Delegation of 5 March to Nablus City; and what reports he has received of the damage to the Old City in Nablus left behind by Israeli forces and its impact in (a) economic and (b) cultural terms. [106881]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: HM Consul General visited Nablus on 5 March with European colleagues. Israel Defence Force (IDF) action has had a serious effect on the town. Health and education facilities have been seriously disrupted. Homes and businesses have been destroyed, and unemployment, according to the Governor of Nablus, is 63 per cent. We have repeatedly urged the parties to implement UNSCR 1435 which calls for Israeli withdrawal and to stop destruction of Palestinian infrastructure. The roadmap offers a mechanism to help achieve this.
Palestine
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken to produce a draft constitution for Palestinian statehood. [106652]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: At the London Conference on 14 January, the Palestinian delegation committed to draw up an outline constitution based on the principles of political pluralism, rule of law and respect for human rights, and set out a process of consultation, including a referendum. The Palestinian Constitution Committee published the first draft of the constitution of a future Palestinian state in February 2001. Further drafts have since been prepared. We understand that further public consultation is planned to refine the latest draft. A final draft will be presented for a national referendum in due course. HMG has provided legal advice and financial support for this work.
Papua New Guinea
Mr. Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart on terrorist bases in Papua New Guinea. [106138]
Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any recent discussions with his Australian counterpart on terrorist bases in Papua New Guinea.
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Rough Diamond Sales/Arms Exports
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what measures the Government is taking at the UN Security Council to ensure that the embargo on rough diamond sales and arms exports, and the travel ban on key personnel from Liberia will be extended and that a ban on timber exports will be adopted when these issues are discussed in May; [105888]
- (2) what assessment his Department has made of the role of the Liberian timber industry in the smuggling of arms into Liberia during the current UN embargo; and if he will make a statement; [105887]
(3) pursuant to his answer of 26 March 2003, Official Report, column 258W, what action the UK Government will take at the next meeting of the UN Security Council on Liberia in May on the timber industry. [106670]
Mr. Rammell: The UN imposed sanctions on Liberia as a result of the Liberian Governments' complicity in fuelling the conflict in Sierra Leone. Liberia remains a serious threat to the stability of the sub-region. We believe sanctions should be maintained until Liberia stops its destabilising efforts in the region and meets in full the demands of the UN Security Council.
We share the concern of the UN Panel of Experts that the revenues from timber sales are being used to fund arms purchases in breach of UN sanctions. In resolution 1408(2002) the UN Security Council called on the Government of Liberia to undertake the audit of shipping and timber revenues and to use the revenues from the timber trade for social, development and humanitarian purposes.
We have played a leading role in trying to restrict the Government of Liberia's sanction busting activities. We will be calling for the Council to examine all sources of revenue, including timber sales, used to make arms purchases, and to consider ways of addressing the problem in order to prevent the Liberian regime from making illicit arms purchases.
The Government supports the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (AFLEG) process, which calls on all African governments and trading partners to take action to control illegal activities in the logging sector and associated trade. The UK will be represented at an AFLEG Conference in April 2003 to push this process forward.
Security Council
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK Government's policy is on Mr. Javier Solana's proposal for the EU to have one seat only on the Security Council. [105926]
Mr. MacShane: It is not the Government's understanding that Mr. Solana has proposed that the EU should have one seat only on the Security Council.
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is his policy that an EU common foreign policy should be explained to the UN by a single Security Council representative. [105928]
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Mr. MacShane: This is not the Government's policy.
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