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Leaflets

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2004, Official Report, column 64W, on leaflet production (costs), what the purpose of the leaflets was; and by what means they were distributed. [180073]

Mr. MacShane: The purpose of the leaflets was to provide information on EU activities relevant to the towns and cities concerned. The leaflets were distributed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office via local MPs, MEPs, the publicity teams of county councils and Government offices, European Public Information Centres, libraries, Citizen's Advice Bureaux, Universities, Chambers of Commerce, and other organisations.

MKO (Iran/Iraq)

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the MKO organisation and its aims for Iran; and what estimate he has made of the number of Iranian civilians who have lost their lives following explosions initiated by that organisation. [180662]

Mr. Rammell: The Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK or MKO) is a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000. It professes to be campaigning for democracy in Iran. But its record of violence extends over several decades. We have no independent confirmation of the number of people who have died at its hands. But the MEK itself has admitted to killing several thousand people since the 1979 revolution in Iran.

Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons he estimates are resident in the MKO training camp in Iraq; what protection is being given to the camp by the foreign troops in Iraq; and what plans are being made for the location or relocation of the camp residents and the materials in the camp after the transfer of power to the Interim Government in Iraq. [180663]

Mr. Rammell: About 3,800 people are detained at Camp Ashraf, the base of the Mojahedin-e Khalq in Iraq. They are under the protection of US forces, who have sole responsibility for them and the camp. Plans for the camp and the detainees during the transition period are a matter for the US authorities and the Iraqi Interim Government.

Public Diplomacy Unit

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the current staffing level of the Public Diplomacy Unit is. [179908]

Mr. MacShane: There are currently 28 staff in the Public Diplomacy Policy Department (which is responsible for overseeing public diplomacy work
 
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overseas) and seven staff in the EU Communications Team (which carries out a public diplomacy function on European issues in relation to the British public).

Sri Lanka

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make representations to the Sri Lankan authorities about the attack on the house of Pastor Kumarasira of Peniel Evangelical Church in Hali-ela, Badulla, on 29 April; [180304]

(2) if he will make representations to the Sri Lankan authorities about (a) attacks on churches in Sri Lanka and (b) the closure of churches because of intimidation; [180305]

(3) if he will make representations to the Sri Lankan authorities concerning the attack on the Christian Fellowship Church in Wadduwa, Kalutara district, on Easter Day. [180306]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: We are concerned about reports of attacks against Christian groups in Sri Lanka, including the two specific attacks referred to. We condemn all instances where individuals are persecuted because of their faith or belief, wherever they happen and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned. We regret the closure of any place of worship due to intolerance or intimidation. Our high commission in Colombo is monitoring the situation in Sri Lanka closely. High commission staff have regular contact with the main Christian leaders in Sri Lanka, who are trying to resolve the issues behind the attacks through meetings with Buddhist and other religious leaders. The Christian leaders have advised against formal representations to the Sri Lankan authorities while these efforts continue. But we have urged the authorities to ensure that those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice and that the rights of all religious minorities in Sri Lanka are respected.

Sudan

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the United Nations about Sudan's membership of the UN Commission on Human Rights. [179934]

Mr. Mullin: None. Each regional group represented in the Commission on Human Rights has a certain number of seats allocated to it. Unless the group itself puts forward more candidates than seats, their nominations are passed without a vote. Sudan's membership of the UN Commission on Human Rights thus follows agreement by the African Group to put them forward as part of their pre-agreed regional nomination. Neither the UK nor any other country has any locus to influence the decisions of another regional group. That said, the Government believe membership of the Commission on Human Rights brings with it responsibilities and members should meet certain minimum standards of behaviour regarding the implementation of human rights in their own countries. We are working with others to identify ways to improve the quality of membership.
 
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Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when the N'Djamena Ceasefire Agreement was signed; when it was originally set to expire; when it was renewed; and if he will make a statement; [181118]

(2) what assessment his Department has made of the key points of the N'Djamena Ceasefire Agreement; and if he will make a statement; [181119]

(3) what assessment his Department has made of the obligations put on the Government of Sudan by the N'Djamena Ceasefire Agreement; what assessment his Department has made of the implementation of these obligations; and if he will make a statement. [181120]

Mr. Mullin: The 8 April Ceasefire Agreement provided for a 45-day ceasefire. At the end of this 45-day period it was automatically renewed for a further 45 days. The agreement requires the parties to provide humanitarian access to civilian populations, and to ensure that all armed groups under their control comply with the agreement. It also provides for a Cease-fire Commission, and recognises the need for

"a mechanism for a political solution".

Humanitarian access is improving, and the AU Ceasefire Commission is deploying. On 18 June President Bashir made a public announcement of his intention to disarm all outlaws, Janjaweed and armed militias in Darfur. We are urging the Sudanese Government to act quickly to translate this statement into action. We are also pressing the parties to work together to find a political solution to the underlying causes of the conflict. None of the parties has yet fully complied with the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his (a) US, (b) European and (c) African counterparts with regard to submitting a resolution on Darfur to the UN Security Council; what progress he has made on this; and if he will make a statement. [179633]

Mr. MacShane: Our priority is to improve the situation on the ground. So our efforts are focused on stopping the fighting, ensuring civilian protection and responding to the humanitarian crisis. Deployment of the African Union-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism has now begun. We have already contributed £2 million to the AU mission, and we are supporting the deployment of UN Human Rights monitors. We are also working with the Government of Sudan on humanitarian access, and have allocated £34.5 million for humanitarian assistance in response to the crisis.

Darfur has been discussed in the Security Council on a number of occasions and we are in close contact with the US, other European and African members of the Council. On 25 May the Security Council adopted a Presidential Statement expressing grave concern at the situation in Darfur. The 11 June Security Council Resolution on Sudan, which focused on the comprehensive peace agreement and plans for a UN Peace Support Operation, called on the parties in Darfur to halt the fighting and conclude a political agreement without delay. We will continue to consider with all partners what further pressure can be brought to bear.
 
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Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what the mandate is of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees monitors in Darfur; and how they will spread across Darfur's states; [179650]

(2) what proposals there are to link United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees monitors with the African Union missions to Darfur. [179651]

Mr. MacShane: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) plans to deploy eight human rights monitors as part of a"90-day action plan for the promotion and protection of human rights in Darfur". A copy of this plan has been placed in the Library of the House. Eight officers will be deployed: one in Khartoum, two in Nyala; two in El Fashir, and three in El Genena. We are providing financial support to the OHCHR for this purpose. We would expect the OHCHR monitors to cooperate with the African Union-led ceasefire monitoring mission.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role he proposes for the UN in peace talks in Darfur. [179652]

Mr. MacShane: The UN Secretary General and his Special Representative for Sudan plan to visit Darfur later this month. We continue to urge all the parties to the conflict in Darfur to engage in political talks as soon as possible.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the UN special rapporteur on executions' statement of 13 June regarding the extrajudicial and summary executions of civilians in Darfur by members of the Sudanese armed forces, the Popular Defence Forces and members of the Janjaweed; and if he will make a statement. [179744]

Mr. MacShane: We are very concerned by reports of extra-judicial executions. Our embassy in Khartoum has raised the matter with the Government of Sudan and is waiting for a response.

Our priority is to stop the fighting, so we are urging the parties to comply fully with the 8 April ceasefire agreement. Deployment of the African Union-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism has now begun. We have already contributed £2 million to the AU mission, and we are supporting the deployment of UN Human Rights monitors. We welcome President Bashir's announcement of 18 June of his intention to disarm all outlaws, Janjaweed and armed militias in Darfur. We have consistently urged the Sudanese Government to act quickly to rein in the Janjaweed and have encouraged them to translate their recent statement into action.

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