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Iran
10. Mr. David Ruffley (Bury St. Edmunds): What recent discussions he has had with the Government of Iran about their civil nuclear programme; and if he will make a statement. [132007]
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Jack Straw): I spoke most recently to the Iranian Foreign Minister about nuclear matters on 3 October. The United Kingdom Government have frequent contact with the Government of Iran on this subject, and we have made clear our serious concerns. We have also made clear our wish that Iran should maintain complete transparency about its nuclear programme, and comply fully with the demands set out in the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors resolution on 12 September.
Mr. Ruffley : The IAEA has imposed a strict deadline of 31 October by which Iran must fully disclose the nature and extent of its uranium enrichment programme, yet the Iranian ambassador to the agency has refused to recognise that deadline as binding. Will
the Foreign Secretary therefore confirm that if Iran does not comply, he will continue to rule out the threat of military sanctions of any kind against Iran?
Mr. Straw: We wish to see the matter resolved peacefully. I will not predict what will happen, except to say that we have adopted a consistent approach in respect of Iran. It was partly through our action that we were able to secure a consensus resolution 34:1—a tough resolution—in the IAEA board in mid-September. Dr. el-Baradei, the head of the agency, is going back to Iran to ensure that the Iranians comply with the demands made by the board. We look forward to his report to the IAEA board, which is to be made on 7 November.
Mr. Jon Owen Jones (Cardiff, Central): On the subject of consistency, the British position with regard to Iran may be consistent, but how is it consistent for the United States to threaten action against Iran for developing nuclear power, while at the same time covertly helping Israel develop marine-launched nuclear weapons?
Mr. Straw: The Government of the United States supported the IAEA resolution that was passed in mid-September, which, with the full support of the US Government, recognised the basic and inalienable right of all member states to develop atomic energy for peaceful purposes. That is not the issue here.
Mr. Mark Prisk (Hertford and Stortford): Given the recent reports that Russia is supplying various elements of nuclear technology to Iran, what representations have the Government made to ensure that we do not find ourselves on a collision course with Russia, and to ensure that Russia is making a positive contribution to a crucial issue?
Mr. Straw: I had positive and constructive discussions about exactly that matter with my Russian opposite number, Igor Ivanov, in a bilateral meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York three weeks ago. Russia voted for the IAEA resolution in mid-September. We are working very closely with our European Union partners, the United States and Russia to ensure that that consensus is maintained.
Liberia
11. Mr. Russell Brown (Dumfries): If he will make a statement on the situation in Liberia. [132008]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Chris Mullin): Liberia has suffered more than a decade of bloody civil war. There is now a comprehensive peace agreement; Charles Taylor has gone; and UN peacekeepers have been deployed. The new transitional national Government is being inaugurated today. We welcome those important steps, but there is still much work to be done.
Mr. Brown : I thank my hon. Friend for that response. I hope that he agrees that the degree of US military force
that we witnessed during August was welcome. Is there anything that he can do to urge the Bush Administration to remain committed to the peace process in Liberia?
Mr. Mullin: My hon. Friend is right that the presence in August of United States troops, albeit mainly offshore, was very helpful in stabilising Liberia. We are in no doubt that the Americans remain committed. Indeed, they have made a substantial contribution to the costs of the humanitarian effort and of funding some of the other peace forces that are involved in the UN operation that has already started.
Sir Sydney Chapman (Chipping Barnet): The Minister will know that 15,000 UN troops are stationed in Liberia and that under the peace agreement elections should be held by 2005. Is it the intention to keep those troops, or a goodly proportion of them, in Liberia until the elections have been held?
Mr. Mullin: So far, there are only about 4,500 UN troops in Liberia, but their number should go up to about 15,000 by March next year. The intention is that all or most of them should be kept there until the country has stabilised.
Hugh Bayley (City of York): What progress has been made on Kofi Annan's proposal to set up a college of peacekeeping studies in west Africa? Given that the plague of violence in west African states has spread, does my hon. Friend agree that the situation would be much better if the Economic Community of West African States was in a position to provide the region with peacekeeping troops of its own? What help will the British Government give to the initiative?
Mr. Mullin: The Kofi Annan proposal is going ahead; I believe that it will be based in Ghana. My hon. Friend is right that it is a very important initiative, because the conflicts in west Africa are ultimately a west African problem that can best be solved by the intervention of well-trained west African troops. He can be assured that we shall support the initiative.
Diamond Trade
12. Mr. Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): If he will make a statement on the role of the United Nations in ending the illegal trade in diamonds in Africa. [132009]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Bill Rammell): The United Nations has helped to break the link in Africa between illicit sales of rough diamonds and armed conflict through a combination of embargoes on the diamond trade and the deployment of peacekeeping operations in countries such as Angola, Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as through several resolutions in support of the Kimberley process certification scheme for rough diamonds—a scheme that this Government pushed for strongly.
Mr. O'Brien : The Minister will have read the UN report on the illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that was published a full year ago in October 2002. Does he agree
that the trade in so-called dirty diamonds is one of the greatest evils blighting large parts of the African continent? Can he therefore assure the House that if there is any evidence of a British person being involved in that evil trade, firm and effective action will immediately be taken to deal with that person and that trade?
Mr. Rammell: I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about the diamond trade—that is why we have initiated and supported the Kimberley diamond process certification scheme. I believe that he refers to the Democratic Republic of the Congo expert panel on natural resources. If substantiated evidence comes forward, we shall investigate it and take action. We remain willing to investigate the panel's allegation when such evidence becomes available. I understand that further information and analysis is expected in the panel's next report in late October. One of the worries about the process is the time it takes the United Nations committee to come up with substantiating evidence.
Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody (Crewe and Nantwich): The Minister knows that attempts to stop the trade will be strongly supported in the House. However, does he agree that it is vital that the genuine trade of African countries that produce diamonds and are utterly dependent on that is not damaged? Such damage is unacceptable.
Mr. Rammell: I understand and share my hon. Friend's concern. That is why the Kimberley process certification scheme has been structured as it has, with the participation of the African states. It ensures that the legitimate diamond trade can continue to provide resources and funds to help rebuild those countries that so desperately need it.
European Constitution
13. Ann Winterton (Congleton): If he will consult the people of the United Kingdom on the draft European constitution. [132010]
The Minister for Europe (Mr. Denis MacShane): Yes.
Ann Winterton : It appears that only Ministers believe that the European Union constitution will not affect the sovereignty and integrity of the United Kingdom as a nation state. Most people believe the opposite. When will the Government, who have not hitherto shied away from referendums, stop being so arrogant, hold a referendum on this vital issue and let the people decide?
Mr. MacShane: Most people who have examined the draft constitutional treaty, including most of those on the continent, accept that it constitutes a good result for Britain. I congratulate the Convention members who took part in the process. I am confident that the final constitutional treaty that is brought to the House will strengthen the role of the nation state and Britain's standing in Europe. However, I also firmly believe—that is why I was elected to the House—that Parliament should debate and determine such matters.
Dr. Nick Palmer (Broxtowe): Does the Minister agree that, in practice, we cannot reject the proposed
constitution without casting doubt on the European Union's ability to operate in its expanded form, and that rejection would therefore call into question our membership of the European Union?
Mr. MacShane: Clearly, my hon. Friend has a point. However, the rules exist and if the constitutional treaty is not ratified by any one of the 25 member states, we shall carry on as before. Undoubtedly, all the incoming states—our friends—want the constitutional treaty to be ratified and operated. One of the saddest aspects of the debate is the way in which the malevolent forces that control the Conservative party's European politics have sent their key henchmen into east Europe to campaign against enlargement. We want an enlarged Europe that works. The constitutional treaty, when it is finally negotiated, should therefore be brought to the House, where I hope that hon. Members will overwhelmingly support it.
Angus Robertson (Moray): Will the Minister for Europe confirm that only five days remain for European Union member states to table amendments to non-institutional questions in the planned European Union constitution? What questions will the United Kingdom Government table? Will they involve fishing or will the UK Government allow it to become entrenched as an exclusive competence in the European Union?
Mr. MacShane: The hon. Gentleman mentions fishing, which is of great concern to his constituents, every time the wider issues of Europe are raised. However, he is wrong. We are in an intergovernmental conference—a solemn treaty negotiation between 25 independent, sovereign nation states. Until the last moment, Governments can table whatever matters they want to be decided. That is why it is important to work constructively with our partners and drop primitive anti-Europeanism, which causes great dismay to parties throughout Europe that expect Britain to be a leader in Europe, helping to run it.
Mr. Chris Bryant (Rhondda): May I urge my hon. Friend not to listen to the rabid rantings of the
Conservatives, and in particular of the Leader of the Opposition, who last week gave a good performance as Neville Chamberlain on acid—
Mr. Speaker: Order. The hon. Gentleman is out of order.
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