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Kongra-Gel
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the involvement of Kongra-Gel members in (a) illegal and (b) terrorist acts since 2003; and if he will make a statement. [212292]
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Mr. MacShane: The UK and EU recognise Kongra-Gel as an illegal terrorist organisation that has been active in perpetrating illegal and terrorist acts since its formation on 15 November 2003.
Special Advisers
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions between 31 March 2003 and 31 March 2004 when special advisers attended meetings with external representatives at which Ministers were not present. [210540]
Mr. Straw: Special advisers hold meetings with a wide range of external representatives in their official capacity. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Asian Tsunami
Mr. Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is taking to help UK victims of the Asian tsunami to return to the UK. [213698]
Mr. Mullin: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made available a comprehensive package of assistance measures to those British Nationals, and their families, affected by the tsunami disaster. This includes, where appropriate, meeting the costs of repatriating victims. Full details of this package, as well as more information on the Government's response to the disaster, can be found at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Tsunami webpage, which can be reached at www.fco.gov.uk.
British officials on the ground, including police and forensic experts, continue to work with the relevant local authorities to help identify and return victims to their loved ones as quickly as possible.
Turkey
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the extradition request to Germany for Remzi Kartal announced by the Turkish Justice Minister on 26 January; and if he will make a statement. [213069]
Mr. MacShane: None. Extradition requests between third party countries are a matter for the countries involved.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the size and (b) the nature of the fire at the Beko Elektronik warehouse in Beylikduzu on 24 January; and if he will make a statement. [213071]
Mr. MacShane:
According to local media sources, the fire at the Beko Electronic Warehouse in Beylikduzu on 24 January caused more than $5 million worth of damage. Up to 35,000 electronic products, the majority being television sets, were apparently destroyed in the blaze.
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A press statement released by the military wing of the Kurdish Workers Party claimed responsibility for the fire. We have no reason to believe that the statement is not genuine.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Roj TV announcement on 25 January, claiming PKK responsibility for the fire at the Beko Elektronik warehouse in Beylikduzu on 24 January; and if he will make a statement. [213072]
Mr. MacShane: We have no reason to believe that the statement reported by Roj TV, in which the Kurdish Workers Party claimed responsibility for the fire, is not genuine.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of (a) the treatment of Huseyin Sunal while in police custody in Turkey in April 1996 and (b) the European High Court of Human Rights' ruling of 25 January concerning this case; and if he will make a statement. [213073]
Mr. MacShane: Huseyin Sunal was taken into custody by the Turkish authorities on 1 April 1996 on suspicion of car theft. Sunal's claims that he was subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment while in custody, and that he was not given effective legal remedy at a domestic level, have been upheld by the European Court of Human Rights.
There has, however, been significant improvement in Turkey's human rights record since 1996, brought about by the Turkish Government's EU-driven domestic reform programme. The European Commission's 2004 progress report on Turkey states that
the Government's serious efforts to implement the legislative reforms have lead to a decline in instances of torture".
Torture of the kind detailed in this case is now extremely rare in Turkey. A package of constitutional amendments was adopted by Turkey in May 2004, that included affirmation that international human rights agreements take precedence over domestic law. The Turkish Justice Minister has publicly affirmed his Government's commitment to uphold European Court of Human Rights judgments.
Ukraine
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to facilitate the long-term goal of the Ukrainian Government of EU accession. [213278]
Mr. MacShane: The Government welcome Ukraine's aspirations and strongly supports efforts to promote economic and political reform, bringing Ukraine closer in line with EU standards. The UK is working with EU partners to develop a programme of enhanced co-operation with Ukraine, responding to the priorities set out by President Yushchenko. The General Affairs and External Relations Council on 31 January welcomed President Yushchenko's intentions, stating that
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government will provide to the new Government of Ukraine to enable internal reforms in the legal system, the media and minority rights. [213279]
Mr. MacShane: The UK supports internal reform in Ukraine through both bilateral and multilateral programmes. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Global Opportunities Fund is supporting projects in Ukraine focusing on election transparency and accountability, support for the media in promoting accountability, and efforts to develop efficient and transparent policies and processes in border management.
The Department for International Development's bilateral programme for Ukraine this financial year is expected to be £6 million, focusing on, inter alia, administrative and economic reform, strengthening governance, and working with civil society. The UK is working with EU partners to ensure that European Commission funding is able to respond quickly to the new Ukrainian Government's priorities for reform. The UK also supports the IMF, World Bank, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in their efforts to promote reform in Ukraine.
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Information Society World Summit
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations his Department is undertaking for the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis; what Department is taking the lead role in organising and preparing the UK Governmental delegation; and if he will make a statement. [211788]
Mr. Mullin: The UK Government are actively involved in preparations for the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis. My hon. Friend the then Minister for Energy, e-commerce and Postal services at the Department for Trade and Industry (Mr. Timms), led a UK delegation to the first summit in Geneva in December 2003 and officials are participating in the Preparatory Committees leading to the Tunis Summit this November.
The UK will attend the summit as EU president and will be pressing for full participation by interested members of civil society, including NGOs and the business sector. My right hon. Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean raised these issues during a recent visit to Tunis. The summit itself will focus on implementation of the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action, including internet governance issues and financial mechanisms for bridging the digital divide.
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