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16 Oct 2003 : Column 335W—continued
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH
Burma
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UK Government will raise the plight of ethnic minorities in Burma at the United Nations Security Council. [132252]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government are encouraging all the appropriate bodies of the UN to tackle the issue of helping bring about national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy in Burma. Should Burma feature on the Security Council agenda, the Government would ensure that the plight of Burma's ethnic groups was taken fully into account.
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government is making to the Burmese regime about the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi. [132250]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The UK has made numerous representations to the Burmese authorities about the detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I spoke to the Burmese ambassador to the UK on 1 September to register the UK's grave concern about the continued detention and treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi. We have also discussed this issue with ASEAN and other countries and encouraged them to raise the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi with the Burmese Junta. While Aung San Suu Kyi's release from detention to home arrest on 26 September was a step in the right direction, the regime must go much further and fully release her and her NLD colleagues and engage in genuine dialogue to reach national reconciliation.
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China
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government policy is on selling military equipment and armaments to China. [132223]
Mr. Rammell: The sale of military equipment and armaments to China is covered by the EU embargo on the sale of arms to China. The Government's policy is based on the UK interpretation of this embargo. No sale can take place without an export licence. All export licence applications are assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and UK arms export licensing criteria.
We would not approve the export of equipment where there is a clear risk it might be used for international aggression or which might be used for internal repression.
Antarctic (Pollution)
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions the UK Government is taking to combat pollution in the Antarctic. [132242]
Mr. Rammell: The UK meets its obligations under the Marine Pollution Convention (MARPOL 73/78) and the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty through strict enforcement of the Antarctic Act 1994, the Antarctic Regulations 1995 and merchant shipping legislation. This ensures that pollution in Antarctica is minimised and that waste is removed from the region for safe disposal elsewhere. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), as the principal UK presence in Antarctica, is one of the leaders in environmental and waste management in the region. BAS has introduced stringent waste management and recycling policies and has already undertaken major clean-up and removal of its former bases. It has introduced oil spill response plans, installed a sewage treatment plant at Rothera research station and is also implementing over the next five years a sustainable energy strategy. This will reduce consumption of hydrocarbon fuels and their emissions. Furthermore, HMG ensures that all other British activities in Antarctica are appropriately permitted. Such permits set pollution and waste disposal conditions for all British vessels, aircraft and expeditions operating in the area. The UK is also in the lead among Antarctic Treaty parties pressing for the adoption of stricter guidelines for the increasing numbers of large cruise ships entering Antarctic waters.
European Agencies
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals were presented to (a) the European Commission and (b) other EU member governments to locate the (i) European and Asylum and Migration Observatory, (ii) European Agency for Security of Communications Networks, (iii) European Food Authority, (iv) European Maritime Safety Agency, (v) European Aviation Safety Agency and (vi) European Rail Safety and Interoperability Agency in the United Kingdom; what discussions he had on locating each in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [131647]
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Mr. MacShane: We have proposed that only one of the EU agencies be located in the UK and that is the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA). We have suggested to our EU partners that it should be located in Glasgow. It is currently unclear as to when a decision will be made on the location of this Agency, along with several others, including those mentioned by the hon. Member. A number of other countries have bid for the site of the EMSA and other agencies. The last substantive discussion of the sites in general was at the Laeken European Council in December 2001.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals were (a) presented to the European Commission and (b) presented to other EU member governments to place (i) the European Agency for Civil Protection, (ii) Eurojust, (iii) the European Police College, (iv) the Community Agency for Information Exchange on Visas, (v) the European Bureau of External Border Surveillance and (vi) the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in (A) England, (B) Scotland, (C) Wales and (D) Northern Ireland; what discussions were held to secure its location in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [131795]
Mr. MacShane: We have proposed that only one of the EU agencies cited by the hon. Member be located in the UK, namely the European Police College Secretariat (ECS). We have suggested to our EU partners that this should be located at Bramshill. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him today.
Iraq
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what British interests were harmed by the bomb that exploded outside the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad in August. [132129]
Mr. Rammell: The despicable terrorist bombing of the UN HQ in Baghdad on 19 August was an attack on the interests of the UN, the Iraqi people, and the international community. 23 people were killed, of whom one was a British citizen, and over a hundred injured. The coalition has made clear that it will not be deterred by terrorist attacks of this nature.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how often he receives briefings from the Commander of British Forces in Iraq. [132131]
Mr. Rammell: The Ministry of Defence provides several briefings every week to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and FCO officials on the situation in Iraq, which take full account of the views of the Commander of British Forces in Iraq.
Israel
Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the UK abstained in the UN Security Council vote on Israel on 16 September. [131886]
Mr. Rammell: The draft resolution before the UN Security Council on 16 September was unbalanced and therefore unhelpful to the implementation of the
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roadmap. As our Permanent Representative to the UN said at the time, we regret that the Security Council was unable to pass a balanced resolution. But the resolution's sponsors would not accommodate UK amendments intended to achieve a better balance, and the UK therefore abstained. A resolution on the situation of President Arafat was subsequently put to an Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly. European Union proposals for a more balanced text were then accepted and the UK, with our EU Partners, voted for the resolution.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has made clear the Government's view that expelling or harming President Arafat would be wrong and counterproductive. Israel should not allow its justified anger at the continuing violence to lead to actions that would undermine both the peace process and its own interests.
Sri Lanka
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when he last had discussions with representatives of the government of Sri Lanka; where these discussions took place; what topics were addressed; and if he will make a statement; [131831]
- (2) when he last had discussions with representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; where these discussions took place; what topics were addressed; and if he will make a statement; [131832]
(3) when he last had discussions with (a) representatives of the US Government, (b) representatives of the governments of the EU member states, (c) representatives of the EU Commission, (d) representatives of the UN, (e) representatives of non-governmental organisations, (f) representatives of the government of Sri Lanka and (g) representatives of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam concerning the resumption of negotiations between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; and if he will make a statement. [131833]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: During my visit to Colombo in January this year, I met with a wide range of interlocutors including representatives of a number of the governments, multi-lateral and non-governmental organisations listed. In London in September I met Professor G. L. Peiris, Sri Lankan Minister for Constitutional Affairs and Government Chief Negotiator; prior to that I met him in March. I also met with Milinda Moragoda, Sri Lankan Minister for Economic Reform, Science and Technology in June. I discussed the peace process with both ministers.
I have not met with representatives of the LTTE.
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