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Democratic Republic of Congo

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the (a) scale and (b) value of natural resource smuggling from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to neighbouring countries; and if he will make a statement. [180504]

Mr. Mullin: We remain deeply concerned that the profits from the vast natural wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo should go to supporting its people. We have funded an independent NGO. Global Witness, to research an independent preliminary report on natural resource exploitation, which was published on 29 June. We are also funding further research into this sector.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has identified the principal beneficiaries of the illegal trade in natural resources from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [180505]

Mr. Mullin: The UN Panel of Experts on Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources identified a number of beneficiaries in its final report published on
 
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28 October 2003. I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 17 December 2003, Official Report, columns 140–42WS, on this subject.

For a very long time the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo have not been the beneficiaries of the natural resources of their country. We are working with the new Government and international and regional partners to help develop effective management of the country's natural resources. We have supported schemes such as the Kimberly Process and Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to help ensure that this takes place.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the safety of humanitarian workers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [180506]

Mr. Mullin: We advise against all travel to eastern and north-eastern areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which remain insecure and dangerous. We remain deeply concerned by the situation in the DRC and will continue to work with international partners, including humanitarian agencies, to support the Transitional National Government and the Congolese peace process.

Eritrea

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Eritrea on the group of evangelical Christians imprisoned for their faith. [180910]

Mr. Mullin: We often raise the issue of religious freedom with the Eritrean Government. I raised the matter with President Isaias in Asmara on 15 January. Our Charge d'Affaires in Asmara did so most recently on 18 May. The British Ambassador regularly raises cases of detention.

EU-Japan Discussions

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters in respect of (a) civil nuclear co-operation and (b) commercial nuclear trading were discussed in the EU-Japan bilateral meeting on 22 June. [180609]

Mr. Rammell: Civil nuclear co-operation and commercial nuclear trading were not discussed at the EU-Japan Summit, although they are referred to in the Summit Statement which can be found at http://jpn.cec.eu.int/english/press-info/4-l-l-190.htm.

European Council Chairman

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria were used to decide to support a full-time chairman for the European Council to replace the present six-monthly rotating presidency. [180567]

Mr. MacShane: The Constitutional Treaty reforms the system of the six-monthly rotating Presidency by accepting the UK proposal to introduce a full time Chair or President of the European Council to provide
 
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greater continuity and coherence in a Union of 25 Member States. The President, who can serve for up to five years, will ensure that the agenda decided upon by Member States is delivered. The new position will strengthen the role of national governments in the EU. The President will be chosen by national governments and will be accountable to them.

India

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of his recent meeting with the new Foreign Minister for India. [180566]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) on 24 June 2004, Official Report, columns 1529–30W.

Reverend Damanik (Indonesia)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 22 June 2004, Official Report, column 1332W, on Reverend Damanik (Indonesia), under what circumstances an individual is considered by his Department to be a prisoner of conscience. [181076]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government do not themselves classify prisoners according to the reasons for their detention, nor do they formally adopt any position on the classifications made by others. The cases of persons designated "prisoners of conscience" by Amnesty International are frequently taken up by our embassies and high commissions overseas.

Sudan

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the International Crisis Group about the humanitarian situation in Darfur. [181338]

Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the President of the International Crisis Group, Mr. Gareth Evans, to discuss Darfur on 23 June.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the Government of Sudan to commute the death sentences on (a) Musa Issa Dikho, (b) Adam Hariu Issa and (c) Ahmed Mohamed Abdel Gadir of Nayala, Sudan. [180726]

Mr. Mullin: Yes. We have already raised these cases with the Government of Sudan and will continue to press for a positive reply.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss with the Sudanese authorities (a) abolition of the death penalty, (b) respect for fair trials and (c) guaranteed respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. [180727]

Mr. Mullin: The promotion of human rights in Sudan, through advocacy with the Government and support for NGOs, remains one of our priorities. We raise our concerns, including on the issues raised, with the Sudanese Government on a regular basis, both bilaterally and as part of the EU-Sudan dialogue.
 
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Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the Sudanese Government the role of the National Security Agency in Al Fashir, Sudan on the recent arrests they have undertaken there. [180728]

Mr. Mullin: We are in regular contact with the Government of Sudan on human rights issues and the situation in Darfur in particular. The British Embassy has raised the recent arrests in relation to the conflict in Darfur with both the National Advisory Council for Human Rights and the Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the National Assembly.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the encroachment of Janjaweed militias into Chad. [180729]

Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) today (UIN 181087).

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the withdrawal of the Government of Chad from the role of mediator in the Darfur crisis. [180732]

Mr. Mullin: We understand that the Chadian Government has threatened to reconsider its position as mediator in the Darfur conflict due to concern over the commitment of the Government of Sudan to prevent cross border incursions. However, we are not aware of any formal announcement by the Chadian Government of its intention to withdraw. We are calling on the parties to engage in political discussions to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to propose to the United Nations Security Council that members of the Government of Sudan should be subjected to targeted sanctions. [180834]

Mr. Mullin: At present our priority is to work with all those involved to address the security and humanitarian situation on the ground, and to get the parties to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to propose to the United Nations Security Council the appointment of an investigator into alleged war crimes and atrocities in Darfur, Western Sudan. [180835]

Mr. Mullin: We support the UN's "90-day action plan for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in Darfur" which provides for the deployment of eight human rights monitors to Darfur. We are providing financial support to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for this purpose.
 
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We also support the proposed appointment of an independent expert to provide formal international scrutiny of human rights in Sudan. We look forward to the appointment of this independent expert soon.

The UN Security Council took note, in its Presidential statement of 25 May, of the OHCHR's recommendation for the establishment of an International Commission of Inquiry to investigate alleged human rights abuses in Darfur. The Security Council may wish to revisit this proposal in light of developments in Darfur, including the work of the National Commission of Inquiry set up by President Bashir.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment his Department has made of the statement released by Human Rights Watch on 22 June alleging cross-border attacks by the Janjaweed on local villagers and refugees in Chad; and if he will make a statement; [181086]

(2) what discussions he has had with representatives of the Government of Chad on cross-border attacks from Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [181087]

Mr. Mullin: We are concerned by reports of incursions by the Janjaweed militias into Chad. 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 are encouraging them to translate this statement into action.

Through our embassy in Khartoum we have discussed the situation in Darfur with the Government of Chad. Our priority is to stop the fighting, so we are supporting the deployment of the AU-led ceasefire monitoring mechanism.

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of (a) the US Administration, (b) EU member states and (c) EU officials on the imposition of sanctions on Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [181088]

Mr. Mullin: None. Our priority is to work with all those involved to address the security and humanitarian situation on the ground, and to get the parties to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether satellite imagery is being used to track and monitor militias within Sudan. [181332]

Mr. Mullin: We understand that the US Agency for International Development is using satellite imagery to monitor the situation in Darfur. Satellite pictures of the area are available on their website (www.usaid.gov).

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in disbanding and disarming the Janjaweed. [181333]

 
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Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 29 June 2004 (UIN 180730).

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had within the United Nations about targeting companies associated with the Government of Sudan by means of travel restrictions and asset freezes. [181339]

Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson) today (UIN 181088).

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the Government of Sudan on the subject of land reform, with specific reference to the proposals being advanced by the SLMIA in Darfur. [181378]

 
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Mr. Mullin: We are not aware of any Sudanese Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) proposals on land reform. The Chairman of the SLM/A, Mr. Abdel Wahid el Nur, did not raise land reform when he met the UK Special Representative for Sudan on 24 June.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to encourage (a) the UN, (b) the African Union and (c) the international community to seek to bring to justice those responsible for recent atrocities in Darfur. [181379]

Mr. Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Robathan) today (UIN 180835). We and our EU partners have made clear that reported attacks against civilians should be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.
 
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