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20 May 2003 : Column 724W—continued
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the European Environment Agency regarding greenhouse gas emissions; and if he will make a statement on changes in the level of such gases in European Union member states since January 2001. [113474]
Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the European Environment Agency regarding greenhouse gases.
The UK Government are a European leader in taking action on climate change. Latest published data for 2001 show that the UK has achieved reductions of 12.3 per cent. below 1990 levels in emissions of the basket of six greenhouse gases. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently announced the UK's intention to put itself on a path to reduce our emissions of carbon dioxide by some 60 per cent. by 2050. In line with this commitment, the Prime Minister has pressed other EU member states to take similar action and go beyond their Kyoto target.
The EU as a whole has met its target under the United Nations Framework on Climate Change to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2000. Latest published data show that greenhouse gas emissions for EU15 were 2.3 per cent. below 1990 levels in 2001.
Iraq
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on export controls for items on the military and dual-use list to (a) Iraqi Interim Authority and (b) the future Government of Iraq; if the Government has discussed the matter with (i) the USA, (ii) the EU and (iii) the UN; and if he will make a statement. [110392]
Mr. Rammell: The Government favours lifting of sanctions on Iraq as soon as possible. There may be a requirement for some restriction on supply of military and dual-use equipment for some time. We are in intensive discussions on the range of issues related to sanctions-lift with the US, with EU partners and with the United Nations.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had since January 2000 with Arab
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nations' foreign affairs ministries on trying to arrange for the re-admission of United Nations inspectors into Iraq. [112602]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: As part of our efforts to ensure the return of UN inspectors in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1,284, the Government regularly had discussions with a wide range of other Governments, including those in the Middle East.
We continue to believe that it is desirable that there should be independent verification of any discoveries of Iraqi WMD made by coalition forces following the recent military campaign. We are actively engaged in discussions with the aim of establishing an independent verification regime for any such discoveries. UN inspection teams remain an option.
Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy was in 1999 on the use of intermediaries between the UK and the Iraqi regime; and what intermediaries were used (a) formally and (b) informally. [114183]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer of 16 May 2003]:. We have found no record of use of intermediaries in 1999.
Kenya
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to meet (a) the President of Kenya and (b) representatives of the Kenyan Government. [112900]
Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not yet had the opportunity to meet President Kibaki. While there are no immediate plans to meet with representatives of the new Government, the Foreign Secretary met the Kenyan Foreign Minister, Kalonzo Musyoka, when he visited London in February.
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's relations with Kenya under President Kibaki. [112901]
Mr. Rammell: The UK Government warmly welcomed the election in December 2002 of President Kibaki and his National Rainbow Coalition. In January official visits to Kenya were made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Clare Short), the then International Development Secretary and my noble Friend Baroness Amos, the then Minister for Africa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Kenyan Foreign Minister paid a visit to the UK in February. We strongly endorse the reform agenda pursued by President Kibaki and look forward to working closely with his government to help realise Kenya's potential.
Liberia
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment his Department has made of the role of the Liberian timber trade in supporting Charles Taylor's regime; [112733]
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- (2) if he will support sanctions on Liberian timber exports [12735]
Mr. Rammell: The UK supports sanctions on Liberian timber exports. We were therefore pleased that on 7 May 2003 the UN Security Council adopted resolution 1478 (2003) unanimously. The resolution renewed and extended sanctions against Liberia. The Council added a new ban on all timber sales from Liberia. This will deprive the Government of Liberia of their revenue used to fund arms purchases. The ban will come into effect on 7 July 2003.
We continue to call on all countries to respect the sanctions imposed on Liberia.
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking (a) to bring peace and better governance to Liberia and (b) to end Liberian efforts to destabilise Sierra Leone and other countries. [113640]
Mr. Rammell: The UK is committed to helping restore peace and good governance to the Mano River sub-region.
With the International Contact group on Liberia we are working with the key regional actors to bring about a comprehensive ceasefire and peace process. This is mediated by the former Nigerian head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar. The most recent Contact Group meeting took place in Brussels on 12 May.
On 6 May 2003 the UK, with other UN Security Council members, supported United Nations Security Council resolution 1478 (2003). This rolled over the previous resolutions, maintaining and strengthening the sanctions imposed against Liberia for its destabilising role in the sub-region, including Sierra Leone. The resolution added a ban on all timber products from Liberia and strengthened the travel ban to include members of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy and other armed rebel groups known to be in breach of the arms embargo.
We continue to call on all countries to enforce the sanctions vigorously.
Nadhmi Auchi
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions (a) ministers in his Department and (b) departmental officials have met Mr.Nadhmi Auchi officially since 2nd May 1997; where these meetings took place; who was present; when they took place; and what was discussed on each occasion. [112869]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: As far as we are aware, neither Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers nor officials have had official contact with Nadhmi Auchi since 2 May 1997.
Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions (a) Ministers in his Department and (b) departmental officials have spoken to Mr. Nadhmi Auchi by telephone since 2 May 1997; and what was discussed on each occasion. [112870]
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Mr. Mike O'Brien: As far as we can establish, neither Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers nor officials have records of any telephone contact with Nadhmi Auchi since 2 May 1997.
Central Africa
John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what recent discussions he has had with President Kagame of Rwanda regarding (a) Rwanda's plans to redeploy troops in Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and (b) the political situation in Rwanda; [113135]
- (2) what recent discussions he has had with President Museveni of Uganda regarding Uganda's redeployment and subsequent withdrawal of troops in Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; [113136]
(3) if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent talks with President Kagame of Rwanda and President Museveni of Uganda on the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; [113138]
(4) what recent discussions he has had with President Kagame of Rwanda regarding preparations to conclude the post-genocide transition period in Rwanda as defined by the Arusha Accords; [113144]
(5) what recent discussions he has had with President Kagame of Rwanda regarding (a) the explulsion of the Democratic Republican Movement from the Rwandan Parliament and (b) the need for free and fair elections in Rwanda; [113134]
(6) if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent talks with President Kagame of Rwanda and President Museveni of Uganda on relations between the two countries. [113137]
Mr. Rammell: My right honourable Friend the Foreign Secretary met President Kagame on 7 May 2003. They discussed a range of subjects, including relations between Rwanda and Uganda, the conclusion of the post-genocide transition period in Rwanda, the handling of the forthcoming elections, and the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
My right hon Friend the Foreign Secretary did not meet President Museveni of Uganda during the latter's visit to UK on 7–8 May. President Museveni attended talks with President Kagame hosted by my right honourable Friend the Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Clare Short), the then International Development Secretary. In a communiqué issued at the conclusion of these talks the two Presidents expressed their gratitude to the UK Government for facilitating dialogue between them and agreed to continue to work to regain their former fraternal relations. I have placed a copy of the communique in the Library of the House.
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