| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
11 Nov 2003 : Column 204W—continued
Greece (British Plane Spotters)
Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what
11 Nov 2003 : Column 205W
representations he and the Attorney-General (a) have made and (b) plan to make to the Greek Government to ensure the repayment to the British plane-spotters arrested in Greece of their bail sureties. [137478]
Mr. Mullin [holding answer 10 November 2003]: My right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Attorney-General have made no representations to the Greek Government to ensure repayment of the British plane spotters' bail money.
The Greek court released the bail money on 22 May 2003. One of the 12 has now received his money. The others are currently in dispute with their Greek lawyers, one of who has taken out an injunction to prevent this money being released until a solution is agreed. This is now a private, legal dispute between the plane spotters and their lawyers.
Guantanamo Bay Detainees
Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received on the legality of the detention of British nationals at Guantanamo Bay. [136581]
Mr. Mullin: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received a number of representations about the legality of the detentions of the British nationals at Guantanamo Bay. These have included representations from some of the families, lawyers, interested Members of Parliament, non-governmental organisations and members of the public.
Indonesia
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 23 October 2003, Official Report, column 615, whether Indonesia has met its obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions and the UN Charter on justice and co-operation with the Serious Crimes Unit. [136198]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Paragraph 12 of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1410, which established the mandate for the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) stresses the critical importance of cooperation between East Timor and Indonesia and cooperation with UNMISET to ensure that those responsible for serious crimes committed in 1999 are brought to justice.
In a statement to the 59th Session of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on 31 March 2003 the EU urged the Indonesian Government to fully cooperate with the UN Special Crime Unit's investigations, and the investigation into the murder of five journalists at Balibo in 1975. Hitherto, Indonesia has not permitted questioning of any of those indicted by the Serious Crimes Unit who are currently resident in Indonesia.
Pakistan
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what efforts his Department is making to end persecution of Christians in Pakistan; [136296]
11 Nov 2003 : Column 206W
- (2) what recent discussions his Department has had with authorities in the Pakistan Government about the persecution of Christians in Pakistan; [136297]
(3) what discussions his Department has had with organisations based in the UK campaigning to end persecution of Christians in Pakistan; [136298]
(4) what work the British high commission in Islamabad undertakes to reduce the persecution of Christians in Pakistan. [136299]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We engage at all levels with the Pakistani Government and with civil society on the plight of Christians in Pakistan. We have raised this issue repeatedly in both official and ministerial level contacts and also in conjunction with our EU partners. There have been three separate EU demarches since June 2002 on this subject. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our concerns with Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri on 4 November.
The British high commission in Islamabad maintains close contacts with representatives of the religious minorities and human rights organisations within Pakistan. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has contact with a range of UK- based NGOs. including those who campaign for the rights of Christians and other religious minorities in Pakistan.
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Pakistan Government regarding the (a) numbers and (b) condition of children under 16 held in detention in Pakistan. [136435]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Ministers have not raised this issue directly with the Pakistani Government, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is supporting implementation of the Juvenile Justice Ordinance 2000 to bring the Pakistani justice system into line with international standards. Recently we sponsored provincial training workshops in Pakistan for criminal justice professionals. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has now taken note of conditions of child prisoners by calling for action in all provinces.
St. Helena
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the revenue from fishing licences for foreign fishing vessels in St. Helena was in each of the last five years. [137436]
Mr. Rammell: The revenue from the issue of fishing licences to foreign fishing vessels in each of the last five vears was as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 2003–04 to date | 99,233.94 |
| 2002–03 | 56,566.80 |
| 2001–02 | 110,309.47 |
| 2000–01 | 217,507.56 |
| 1999–2000 | 614,031.99 |
11 Nov 2003 : Column 207W
Uzbekistan
Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to promote the development of human rights in Uzbekistan. [136588]
Mr. Rammell: We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Uzbekistan and continue to raise our concerns both bilaterally and with EU partners. In addition, there are two particular ways in which we can monitor reform and exert pressure. The first is a set of benchmarks against which political and economic reforms will be measured, agreed in the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's (EBRD) strategy for Uzbekistan. These will be reviewed by the EBRD later in the year. The second is the UN Special Rapporteur's Report on Torture in Uzbekistan, which referred to torture as "systematic". We shall continue to press the Uzbek authorities to implement his recommendations.
The UK is willing to provide assistance in the area of judicial reform and to assist Uzbekistan with broadening the investigative capacity of its police. Testing the Uzbek authorities' willingness to work with others to reform their behaviour is crucial. In Tashkent we are currently working with Human Rights organisations, the OSCE, UNDP and other embassies to push Uzbekistan to develop and implement a National Action Plan to Combat Torture.
Western Sahara
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Morocco's stance on the main part of the Baker Plan for the western Sahara. [136006]
Mr. Rammell: The United Kingdom supports fully the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his personal envoy, James Baker III, to find a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution to the western Sahara dispute that provides for self-determination for the people of western Sahara.
The United Nations Secretary General reported to the Security Council in October and urged Morocco to positively engage with the process by accepting and implementing the Baker peace plan. Subsequently, UN Security Council resolution 1513 was adopted unanimously, extending the mandate of MINURSO (the UN Mission for the Referendum in western Sahara) until 31 January 2004 to allow further consideration of the plan.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Morocco on (a) the continuing presence of troops and (b) human rights in the western Sahara. [136008]
Mr. Rammell: My noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean visited Morocco on 15–17 September 2003. She discussed the situation in western Sahara with the Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister. Ministers and officials regularly call upon the parties to the western Sahara dispute to take action on human rights issues
11 Nov 2003 : Column 208W
and raise specific cases as necessary. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, taking action with the appropriate authorities where necessary.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of France on its policy towards mineral exploitation in the western Sahara. [136506]
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his officials have had at the UN concerning the future of Minurso and the possibility of a referendum on the future of western Sahara. [136513]
Mr. Rammell: Officials have been in contact with their United Nations counterparts over this issue, particularly in the lead up to the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1513 on 28 October 2003 which extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 January 2004.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |