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Equatorial Guinea

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has (a) received and (b) made concerning the (i) economic and (ii) political situation in Equatorial Guinea since 2002; and if he will make a statement. [187275]

 
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Mr. Mullin: We receive occasional requests for information on the political and economic climate in Equatorial Guinea from UK companies interested in investing there and from members of the public. We have a regular dialogue with the Government of Equatorial Guinea on economic, governance and human rights issues. We also discuss the situation there with our EU partners and the US.

Iraq

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what voting system will be used for the parliamentary elections in Iraq. [187617]

Mr. Rammell: The upcoming election for an Iraqi Transitional National Assembly will be based on a Single Constituency Proportional Representation Closed List system. The whole of Iraq will be a constituency and voters will not necessarily need to register in their home town or area. The choice of system for subsequent elections will be for the Iraqis to decide.

Israel

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the deaths of children at the entrance to the Balata refugee camp in July. [187463]

Mr. Rammell: Israeli Defence Force action which results in the death or injury of children is deeply disturbing. We have frequently called on the Israeli Government to stop such action, and continue to raise our concerns at the highest level. We have not made specific representations concerning the deaths at Balata refugee camp in July.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take in response to the ruling of the International Court of Justice on the separation barrier erected by Israel. [187498]

Mr. Rammell: On 20 July the UK, along with our EU partners, voted in favour of UN General Assembly resolution ES-10/15, acknowledging the ICJ Opinion and calling on Israel to re-route the barrier away from occupied land.

While we recognise Israel's legitimate security concerns, it must act in accordance with international law. We continue to press the Israeli Government to re-route the barrier away from occupied land, in line with international law.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning the attack on a UN convoy delivering aid to Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip on 15 July. [187515]

Mr. Rammell: As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 22 July 2004, Official Report, column 551W, although we have not made specific representations regarding the 15 July incident, we have urged the Government of Israel to ensure aid agencies are able to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian population.
 
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Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government concerning killings of and injuries to Palestinians in the Gaza town of Beit Hanoun. [187516]

Mr. Rammell: We are extremely concerned at the casualties and at the humanitarian impact of the Israeli Defence Force actions in Beit Hanoun.

Officials in Tel Aviv have visited the areas affected and raised with the IDF both the action taken in July and the continuing closure of Beit Hanoun.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli Government regarding the treatment of Palestinian prisoners by the Israeli authorities. [187562]

Mr. Rammell: On 1 September officials in Tel Aviv raised with the Israeli Prison Service (IPS) a number of our concerns about the demands that inspired the Palestinian prisoners' hunger strike. These included: that Israel should meet its obligations towards prisoners; that prisoners, including during the hunger strike, should be treated with dignity; and a failure to separate juvenile and adult prisoners, as provided for in The Convention on The Rights of The Child.

On 2 September the IPS informed our Tel Aviv Embassy that the hunger strike had ended.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he made to the Government of the USA in July and August about the USA's interpretation of the Road Map in respect of the expansion of settlements in the west bank announced by Israel; and if he will make a statement. [187576]

Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed a number of the middle east peace process issues with Condoleeza Rice, the US National Security Adviser, on 16 August, including Israel's announcements of expansion of settlements. Officials have also discussed the issue in Washington.

Our view remains that Israel should freeze all settlement activity, including the natural growth of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since 2001, in accordance with phase one of the roadmap.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he made to the Government of Israel during July and August in respect of Israel's announcement that it is to proceed with the further expansion of settlements in the West Bank. [187577]

Mr. Rammell: On 2 August my noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean issued a strong statement of concern following reports that Israel had approved further construction in the Ma'ale Adumim settlement calling on Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to dismantle all outposts built since 2001, in line with its Roadmap commitments. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office wet site: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases.
 
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On 18 August our Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised the issue with the Acting Israeli Minister for Construction. Tzipi Livni.

We continue to press the Israeli Government to reconsider their decision to issue tenders for new homes in a number of West Bank settlements, including Ma'ale Adumim.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with each of the Quartet partners during July and August about Israel's announcement that it intends to expand settlements in the west bank; and if he will make a statement on the options for action by the Quartet in response. [187575]

Mr. Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has discussed Israel's recent announcements on settlement expansion with both the US and EU partners.

The Quartet (UN, US, EU, Russia) continues to play a vital role in leading the international community's involvement in the Middle East peace process. Through the EU, the UK will seek to ensure the Quartet's next meeting, scheduled to take place in New York on 23 September, continues to provide leadership in the effort to stimulate positive steps from both sides.

Moldova

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent efforts he has made to assist Russia to withdraw its troops and ammunition from the Republic of Moldova. [187739]

Mr. MacShane: We continue to encourage the Russian Federation to withdraw forces and ammunition from Moldova in line with the commitments Russia made at the OSCE Summit in Istanbul in November 1999. We, along with NATO allies, will not ratify the Adapted Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty until the Russian Federation has met their commitments concerning Moldova, and other commitments concerning Georgia made at the same OSCE Summit.

UK military personnel are on a standby roster as part of the OSCE Monitoring Mission, to verify the removal of Russian ammunition from Moldova. But only one trainload of ammunition has been removed in 2004 and an estimated 35–40 trainloads of Russian ammunition remains in Moldova. We hope that Russia will accelerate the withdrawal process and will continue to offer our support to verify the removal of ammunition from Moldova.

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