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22 Oct 2003 : Column 619W—continued
Central Africa
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how UN Security Council Resolution 1484 on the African Great Lakes region is being implemented; and what monitoring of the implementation is taking place. [132500]
Mr. Rammell: UN Security Council Resolution 1484 authorised the deployment until 1 September of an Interim Emergency Multinational Force (IEMF) in Bunia.
The IEMF deployed to Bunia in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in June. As framework nation, France provided the military commander and the majority of the force. A number of EU member states and non-EU nations contributed. The UK provided an engineer detachment and Hercules transport to assist with the deployment; in addition we deployed five staff officers to serve with the operation HQ. It was the first EU led operation outside Europe.
The IEMF were replaced on 1 September by the UN's Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) Ituri Brigade operating under a more robust mandate.
Indonesia
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a permanent secretary or under-secretary in his Department has visited Indonesia since 1973; and what the purpose was of each visit. [133127]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: To compile the information requested for 1973 to 1999 would incur disproportionate costs. However, since 2000:
- 4–5 July 2000 Permanent Secretary, to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues.
12–16 September 2000 Director General (Deputy Under Secretary) Wider World, familiarisation and to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues.
22–24 November 2000 Group Chief Executive (Permanent Secretary equivalent), British Trade International (a joint DTI/FCO Department), to discuss trade and investment issues.
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30 July-3 August 2001 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/Pacific, to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues.
12–14 December 2001 Permanent Secretary (designate), as part of a programme of visits to familiarise himself with as many overseas posts as possible.
4–5 July 2002 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Economic, to discuss economic and trade policy issues.
7–10 January 2003 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/Pacific, accompanying the Prime Minister on his visit to Indonesia.
14 May 2003 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/Pacific (designate), to attend an ASEM senior officials meeting.
21–25 July 2003 Director (Assistant Under Secretary) Asia/Pacific, accompanying the Minister to the ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Mr. Mike O'Brien: The file containing papers relating to a visit to Indonesia by department officials in October 1975 is due for review in 2005 for consideration for release under the 30-year rule in January 2006.
Iraq
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his written statement of 17 September 2003, Official Report, column 53WS, on Iraq, what provisions have been made to ensure security against theft of arms and other related military material exported to Iraq. [132491]
Mr. Rammell: The Government takes very seriously the security of arms and military equipment approved for export to Iraq. Provisions, determined on a case-by-case basis, include the condition that equipment will remain under the control of the end user at all times, be stored securely, and removed from Iraq at the end of its period of use.
Mr. David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many barrels of oil have been exported from Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein; what value this represents; and what use has been made of the proceeds. [133158]
Mr. Rammell: Between May and 14 October around 85.2 million barrels of oil were exported by the Iraqi State Oil Marketing Organisation. The total sales revenues amounted to around $2.14 billion. Under UN Security Council resolution 1483 all proceeds from Iraq's oil sales must be paid into the Development Fund for Iraq. The money in this fund is to be used to meet the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people, for the economic reconstruction and repair of Iraq's infrastructure, for the continued disarmament of Iraq, and for the costs of Iraqi civilian administration and other purposes benefiting the people of Iraq as specified in the resolution.
Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of Order 39, issued by Mr. Paul Bremer III. [132749]
Mr. Rammell: Copies of Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) Order 39 have been placed in the Library of the House. Orders are also available on the CPA website at www.cpa-iraq.org.
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Middle East
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the US Administration on its approach to ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. [133151]
Mr. Rammell: 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, the noble Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and FCO officials are in constant touch with US colleagues to realise that vision. We agree with them that the Quartet roadmap provides the right mechanism, and are working with them to implement it.
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to persuade the Israeli Government to pursue a negotiated settlement with the Palestinians; and what assessment he has made of the possible use of targeted sanctions. [133152]
Mr. Rammell: The Government constantly urges the Israeli Government at the highest level and through the EU to fulfil its obligations under the roadmap, which is agreed by both parties and the international community to be the route to a peaceful settlement in the Middle East. The Government believe that, as a friend of Israel and the Palestinians, we can best exert influence and encourage both sides to take the steps needed for progress through close engagement with them. We do not believe that targeted sanctions would bring the parties any nearer to a peaceful resolution.
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU colleagues on the development of a mechanism for monitoring the roadmap for peace. [133153]
Mr. Rammell: EU Foreign Ministers discussed the mechanism for monitoring the roadmap at their meeting on 29 September. We agreed that
- "the EU will continue to work closely and consistently with the US and with other Quartet partners on all issues linked to the successful implementation of the roadmap by the parties".
Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the deportation by the State of Israel of persons against whom no charges have been laid; and what action he plans to take consistent with Articles 146 and 147 of the 4th Geneva Convention. [133068]
Mr. Rammell: We are deeply concerned by the Israeli government policy of relocating certain Palestinians to Gaza. We believe such actions are inconsistent with international law. We have previously raised our concerns with the Government of Israel and urged them not to carry out expulsions. We will continue to do so.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to condemn the bombing of Syria by Israel; and if he will make a statement. [132354]
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Mr. Rammell: We deplore Israel's attack on Ayn Sahib on 5 October. As our Ambassador to the United Nations told the Security Council, this was unacceptable and represented an escalation of the situation in the region. While we understand Israel's need to protect her citizens from terrorism, we urge all sides to exercise restraint and refrain from actions that escalate tension.
Russian Polar Medal
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on discussions to enable Arctic Convoy Veterans to accept the Russian Polar Medal. [133544]
Mr. Rammell: Officials are continuing to research the possibility of an exception to the present rules to permit veterans to accept the Defence of the Soviet Arctic Region Medal, should the Russian Government formally seek the Government's authority to award the medal to British citizens. We hope that the work will be completed before the end of the year.
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