Tenth Report of Session 2001-02,
Zimbabwe (HC 813)
10. The Committee produced reports on two specific
areas of foreign policy in 2002: the situation in Zimbabwe, on
which we produced two reports, and the future of Gibraltar. In
our two reports on Zimbabwe, we continued the work done by our
predecessor Committee in monitoring the situation in that country.[18]
The first, published in February, reported to the House the oral
evidence we had heard from the Secretary of State, Rt Hon Jack
Straw MP, and from Baroness Amos, Minister of State in the FCO,
on the deteriorating economic and political situation in Zimbabwe,
prior to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in March.[19]
The second, fuller, Report (published in July) gave a more detailed
analysis of the state of affairs before and after the March presidential
elections in the country and examined issues surrounding land
reform, freedom of expression and the response of the United Kingdom
and the European Union to developments there.[20]
On the basis of the evidence received, we felt fully justified
in condemning the actions of Robert Mugabe's government, and especially
their role in the illegal seizure of land. We supported the Commonwealth's
decision to suspend Zimbabwe and recommended the maintenance of
effective sanctions against the regime by the United Kingdom and
the EU. While recognising the difficulty of the United Kingdom's
position as the former colonial power, we urged the Government
to remain closely involved with the plight of the Zimbabwean people
and to counter most strongly all misrepresentations of its policies
and motivations. We intend to maintain a close interest in future
developments in Zimbabwe.
Eleventh Report of Session 2001-02,
Gibraltar (HC 973)
11. Like our predecessor Committee, we have monitored
carefully all developments affecting the future of Gibraltar,
with Reports being most recently published in June 1999, July
2000, April 2001 and December 2001.[21]
In our latest Report on the subject, published in November of
last year, we examined a number of related issues: the Brussels
Process talks and their possible outcome[22];
the British Government's agreement to enfranchise Gibraltarians
for the European elections in 2004; allegations over pensions
and statistics in Gibraltar; the means through which Spain exerts
a degree of control over the territory (for example, through border
controls); and the future of the defence and financial services
sectors.[23] Our inquiry
took place against the backdrop of heightened public interest
in Gibraltar's future in all three interested parties—Gibraltar,
the United Kingdom and Spain—and high-level negotiations
between the British and Spanish Governments, which were eventually
to prove fruitless. The Report was published as polls closed in
Gibraltar on a referendum, organised by Gibraltar's government,
on the question of Anglo-Spanish joint sovereignty. The result
of the referendum was an overwhelming rejection of any such proposal.[24]
12. Our Report concluded that it would be a long
time before any joint sovereignty proposal could be made acceptable
to the people of Gibraltar. We were critical of both United Kingdom
and Spanish foreign policy on this issue, and their failure properly
to consult, or "woo", Gibraltarians. It was also vital
that the military, telecommunication, flight and other restrictions,
imposed by Spain, were ended as soon as possible.
18 Foreign Affairs Committee, Minutes of Evidence,
Session 1999-2000, Zimbabwe, HC 477-i. Back
19
Fourth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 2001-02,
Zimbabwe, HC 456. Back
20
Tenth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Session 2001-02,
Zimbabwe, HC 813. Back
21
Foreign Affairs Committee, Fourth Report of Session 1998-99, Gibraltar,
HC 366; Ninth Report of Session 1999-00, Gibraltar: Follow
Up; Sixth Report of Session 2000-01, Gibraltar, HC
319; and First Report of Session 2001-02, Gibraltar, HC
413. Back
22
"The Foreign Secretary and Spanish Foreign Minister relaunch
talks on Gibraltar, FCO press release, 26 July 2001. Back
23
Foreign Affairs Committee, Eleventh Report of Session 2001-02,
Gibraltar, November 2002, HC 973. Back
24
Leading article, Daily Telegraph, 9 November 2002. Back
