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Georgia

Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the situation concerning South Ossetia in the Republic of Georgia; what recent representations he has made regarding the presence of Russian forces; what plans there are for (a) mediation and (b) the provision of (i) observers and (ii) peacekeeping forces by international organisations; and if he will make a statement. [189874]

 
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Mr. Rammell: The Government support the territorial integrity of Georgia and Georgia's right to control its own borders. We believe that the conflict can only be resolved and a long-term sustainable solution found, by peaceful negotiation between the parties. To this end, the UK supports the work of the OSCE mission in Georgia, who have a special role in promoting the peaceful resolution of the South Ossetian conflict, and the work of the EU Special Representative to the South Caucasus. The UK's own Special Representative to the South Caucasus is also active, having most recently visited Georgia, including South Ossetia, on 22 to 25 September 2004.

The format for dialogue between the Georgians and the South Ossetians is through the Joint Control Commission, which also includes the Russians and the North Ossetians. This Commission met last in Russia at the end of September but there were no concrete outcomes.

Russian forces form part of the Joint Peacekeeping Forces (including Georgian and South Ossetian) that are present by agreement of these parties. OSCE monitors are also present by agreement of the relevant parties. The OSCE is currently considering increasing their number of monitors from six to 16, a proposal that we support.

Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Her Majesty's Government's policy is on the situation concerning Abkhazia in the Republic of Georgia; whether he has made any recent representations regarding the presence of Russian forces; whether there are any plans for mediation and the provision of observers and peacekeeping forces on the part of international organisations; and if he will make a statement. [189913]

Mr. Rammell: The Government support the territorial integrity of Georgia and Georgia's right to control its own borders. We believe that the conflict can only be resolved and a long-term sustainable solution found, by peaceful negotiation between the parties. Being a member of the Friends of the Secretary General on Georgia, the UK actively supports the dialogue process headed by the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General. Efforts are under way to prepare for another round of these talks but they are not imminent. The UK's own Special Representative to the South Caucasus is our senior official on the Friends Group. He often travels to the region and to capitals to explore possibilities to move towards a solution.

The Russian peacekeeping forces in Abkhazia are there by agreement of the parties to the dispute. A UN observer mission (UNOM1G), including a British component, is also present. This mission was established in 1993 to verify compliance of the Cease-Fire Agreement between Georgia and Abkhazia.

Gibraltar

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Gibraltar Government in order to ensure that it follows its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights as expressed in
 
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the judgment of 9 January 2003 of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of L and V v. Austria concerning the homosexual and heterosexual ages of consent; and if he will make a statement. [190166]

Mr. MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 13 May 2003, Official Report, column 161W. I have had no recent discussions with the Gibraltar Government on this issue.

Guatemala

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Guatemala about the scale of violence against women in that country. [190190]

Mr. Rammell: We are concerned at the high levels of violence committed against women in Guatemala. Unfortunately this is part of a much wider human rights problem in Guatemala, which I raised with the new Vice-President when I visited Guatemala in January. However, we have noted the positive efforts that President Berger has made since his inauguration on 14 January to improve human rights generally in Guatemala.

Our ambassador to Guatemala and other EU ambassadors raised concerns about increasing levels of violence and murders of women with both the Attorney-General and the Minister of Home Affairs in August. Yakin Erturk, UN special rapporteur on violence against women, raised similar concerns on her visit to Guatemala in February. The UK chargé d'affaires and other EU ambassadors also attended a meeting with Susana Villaran, OAS rapporteur on violence against women and Frank la Rue, Head of the Guatemalan Presidential Commission on Human Rights. Mr. La Rue acknowledged the concerns expressed by the UK chargé and other ambassadors about increasing attacks on women and said the Guatemalan Government took very seriously the issues raised by the UN and OAS rapporteurs.

We will continue to monitor human rights closely.

Haiti

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the interim Government of Haiti regarding the security situation in Port-au-Prince. [189681]

Mr. Rammell: The security situation in Haiti remains volatile. But, due to the efforts of the UN multinational force and the interim Government, there has been some improvement since the political crisis in February, which led to former President Aristide's resignation and departure.

We have no direct representation in Port-au-Prince—we cover Haiti from the British Embassy in Santo Domingo. Our Ambassador there has made regular trips to Haiti over the past 18 months, most recently visiting Port-au-Prince in August 2004, when he discussed the security situation with the Prime Minister.
 
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Hurricane Ivan

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK holiday makers and UK citizens resident in (a) Grenada, (b) Jamaica and (c) Cuba were airlifted out of those countries (i) in advance of and (ii) subsequent to Hurricane Ivan. [189908]

Mr. Mullin: No British holidaymakers or citizens were airlifted out of Grenada in advance of Hurricane Ivan as there was insufficient warning of its impact. In the days immediately following the hurricane, the British High Commission in Grenada assisted approximately 400 British tourists, EU and Commonwealth nationals to secure flights, including one we chartered, out of Grenada, principally via Barbados. A further 200 British visitors, residents and dual British/Grenadian citizens have since been advised about leaving Grenada. Since 13 September commercial flights, principally via Barbados on regional airlines, have been operating out of Grenada.

We understand from British tour operators with clients in the region that before the hurricane there were around 3,400 holidaymakers. Just under half of these left the island before the hurricane struck. A significant number of those who remained were visiting friends and relatives and could not be contacted. Subsequently, 131 were moved to another part of Jamaica and 2,497 were evacuated to another island or returned to the UK.

We understand there were about 5,500 holidaymakers booked through British tour operators on Cuba. Approximately 1,000 were evacuated to an alternative holiday destination, the remainder were moved to other parts of the island.

Mr. Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being provided by his Department to governments of islands affected by Hurricane Ivan. [190274]

Mr. Rammell: For information about UK assistance following Hurricane Ivan I refer my right hon. Friend to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development made to the House on 14 September 2004, Official Report, columns 1125–27, which was updated on 16 September 2004, Official Report, columns 169–72WS. A further written statement, updating the House on UK assistance following Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne, was issued on 12 October 2004, Official Report, columns 14–20WS.

Hurricane Ivan hit Grenada on 7 September causing severe damage and destruction as well as loss of life. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has appointed my noble Friend the Baroness Howells of St. Davids as his Personal Envoy to Grenada. She travelled to Barbados and Grenada from 21 to 24 September with representatives of the Department for International Development and the British High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean to see the situation at first hand. We look forward to discussing her recommendations.

In response to a request from the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dr. Keith Mitchell, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Caribbean Regional Prisons Adviser, Nicholas Brooke, has travelled to Grenada to
 
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inspect the prison, which was badly damaged in the hurricane. He will assess the current state of the prison, make recommendations for short-term remedial action and report on the medium and long-term implications for the prison following the hurricane damage. We have also provided him with some funds for immediate work on the prison.

On 12 September Grand Cayman took an almost direct hit from Hurricane Ivan. We have funded police reinforcements from neighbouring Overseas Territories to be deployed, and provided part funding for a detachment from the Bermuda Regiment to assist with the clean up operation. We have also made available various technical advisers and reinforced the Governor's office.

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