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21 Feb 2005 : Column 29W—continued
Russia
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the attempt by some members of the Russian Duma to ban all religious and ethnic Jewish organisations as extremist. [215641]
Mr. Rammell: It is shocking that 20 Duma deputies should sign such a statement particularly at a time when the world was commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops.
I welcome the Statement from the State Duma that condemned such openly anti- Semitic views.
The Government's position on such issues is well known: we condemn all forms of discrimination and are committed to countering intolerance at home and abroad as an integral part of protecting and promoting human rights.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of levels of xenophobia and anti-Semitism in Russia. [215642]
Mr. Rammell: Reports by NGOs and in the media about prejudice and violence against minorities in Russia are concerning. These reports indicate that racially motivated crimes against black, Asian, Caucasian and Jewish people in Russia appear to be increasing. One report from the Sova human rights centre in Moscow suggests that the number of racially motivated deaths in Russia increased from around 15 in 2003 to at least 44 in 2004.
The growth of extremist neo-Nazi and skinhead organisations is another concerning development. A report by the Moscow Bureau for Human Rights estimated that, at the end of 2003, there were 50,000 skinheads across Russia, mainly concentrated in the larger cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.
While reports of growing anti-Semitism in Russia continue, Jewish groups agree that there is no state-sponsored anti-Semitism in Russia and President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated sympathy for Jewish interests. However, prejudice remains common and reports of sporadic attacks on Jewish buildings and individuals continue.
The Government's position on such issues is well known: we condemn all forms of discrimination and are committed to countering intolerance at home and abroad as an integral part of protecting and promoting human rights.
To help combat racism and xenophobia in Russia the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has funded a one-year project to assist NGOs representing ethnic minorities in the regions. We are also co-funding an ambitious project to bring ethnic minority NGOs and the police together in different regions to develop
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strategies for tackling racism and discrimination. A further project, started in 2003, provides legal support and takes on strategic litigation to protect the rights of the Roma community.
South Africa
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of South Africa about the promotion of democratic reform in Africa. [215667]
Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed governance, which included democratic reform, with South African Foreign Minister Dlamini-Zuma, during the UK-South Africa Bilateral Forum on 25–26 August 2004. Good governance is one of the five key areas of the work of the Commission for Africa which my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for International Development have discussed with the South African Government on several occasions in recent months.
Sudan
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army's reaction to the Sudanese army's actions on 8 December 2004 in the Thabit area near ElFasher; and if he will make a statement. [214731]
Mr. Mullin: The report of the UN Secretary General on the Sudan notes that there was renewed fighting between government troops and rebel forces, including the Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA) around Thabit on 7–8 December, and that the
The report goes on to highlight continued breaches of the ceasefire by both sides. We are maintaining sustained pressure on Khartoum and rebels to show restraint in the face of provocation, to comply with UN Resolutions and their own commitments, and to reach a political settlement.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recommendations of the Report of the International Commission of Inquiry on Darfur. [215658]
Mr. Mullin: The report of the International Commission of Inquiry (ICI) was released to the Security Council on 31 January. The report concluded that the Government of Sudan, the Arab militias and the rebels are all guilty of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, which may amount to crimes against humanity and/or war crimes. The report found no evidence that the Government of Sudan have pursued a policy of genocide in Darfur, although a competent court" will need to decide whether certain individuals have done so. The report stresses that the crimes which have taken place in Darfur
and recommends that the crimes should be referred to the International Criminal Court.
The ICI has given the UN Secretary General a list of suspects it believes may have perpetrated these crimes, and recommends that he pass this list to a competent
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Prosecutor. The UN Security Council is united in their determination that there can be no impunity for these crimes and will be discussing the next steps over the coming days.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the referral of the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court in accordance with the findings of the UN Inquiry on Darfur. [215659]
Mr. Rammell: Our preference is for the situation in Darfur to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC), as recommended by the International Commission of Inquiry. Since Sudan is not a state party to the ICC Statute, and is unlikely to refer the situation to the Court, a decision by the Security Council will be required.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sudan on the rights of civilians to express their political views, including holding public demonstrations. [215671]
Mr. Mullin: We regularly raise this issue with the Government of Sudan. Most recently, on 6 February 2005, our embassy in Khartoum raised with the Ministry of Information the need to respect people's right to freedom of expression, with particular reference to press freedom, following recent action taken against the media.
Personal liberty, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom of expression and of assembly and association are guaranteed by the Power Sharing Protocol of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which the Government of Sudan and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement/Army signed on 9 January 2005. We are pressing both sides to fully implement the terms of the agreement.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of reports that security forces in Sudan opened fire upon civilian protesters from the Beja community in Port Sudan on 29 January. [215672]
Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon., Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 9 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1557- 58W, and to the reply I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble) on 16 February (UINs 215847 and 215848).
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he plans to take to assist the African Union to deploy the full contingent of troops to Darfur without delay. [215673]
Mr. Mullin:
We are providing the African Union (AU) with considerable support to allow the mission to deploy the full contingent of troops. Since May 2004 we have provided more than £14 million in funding, from which we have provided logistical support including 143 vehicles, with a further delivery of 470 vehicles to take place soon. A UK officer also provides planning support to the AU and we have a UK observer on the ground.
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The AU currently has just over 1,900 troops on the ground, and more are expected in the coming weeks. We remain in close contact with the AU, and our partners in the international community, about what further assistance we may be able to provide to aid their deployment.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the capability of the African Union mission in Darfur to fulfil its mandate. [215674]
Mr. Mullin: We fully support the African Union (AU) mission in Darfur. There have been some delays in deployment, but the AU now have more than 1,900 personnel on the ground. We and other donors have worked hard to help the AU overcome the logistical problems that they have faced in Darfur, by providing financial assistance, planning support and equipment. Where troops are equipped and on the ground they are playing a strong role, not only in monitoring, but also in defusing tensions; negotiating release of hostages; and offering protection to aid convoys. We note that the latest report by the UN Secretary General highlights the positive difference the AU are making in Darfur, particularly in facilitating the movement of humanitarian relief, preventing the escalation of violence, defusing tensions and providing security. The UN Secretary General goes on to state that
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the views of the African Union's Chief Ceasefire Monitor, General Festus Okonkwo, concerning the build-up of arms and troops in Darfur. [215744]
Mr. Mullin: We fully support the comments made by General Okonkwo. We share his concerns about the build-up of troops and arms in Darfur. We are discussing ways to address this in the Security Council, including through further measures to control arms flows into and within Darfur. At the same time we are pressing all sides to abide by the commitments they have made and the obligations placed upon them, and then to return to the negotiating table in Abuja. A political dialogue, rather than use of weapons and troops, is the only way in which a lasting solution to the problems in Darfur will be found.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Government of Sudan's progress in implementing his Five-Point Plan for Peace within the agreed three months. [215745]
Mr. Mullin: On 6 October 2004, the Government of Sudan gave their commitment to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister that they would co-operate with the African Union (AU) mission; provide the location of militia forces and confine these forces to barracks, if the rebels would also do so; conclude the Compressive Peace Agreement by the end of the year; and to implement the Abuja Humanitarian Protocol.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement was concluded on 31 December 2004, and formally signed on 9 January in Nairobi. The Government of Sudan have provided
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the location of their forces to the AU and are co-operating with the ongoing expansion of its mission. However neither the Government of Sudan nor the rebels have confined their troops to barracks. We welcome the improvement in humanitarian access from six months ago, as stated by the UN Secretary General in his latest report on Darfur. But it is still very poor, and we continue to be concerned that the security situation means that aid cannot be delivered to all that need it. We have made clear that security must improve and the ceasefire violations must stop. We are strongly pressing both sides to abide by the Abuja protocols.
Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment he has made of the security situation in the east of Sudan; [215847]
(2) what discussions he has held with the Government of Sudan concerning its actions in relation to the unrest in the east of the country. [215848]
Mr. Mullin: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 9 February 2005, Official Report, columns 1557–58W.
Our embassy in Khartoum raised these incidents with Beja Congress leaders on 30 January 2005, and with the Government of Sudan on 31 January 2005.
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will urge the UN to define the atrocities committed in Darfur as genocide; [215261]
(2) if he will urge his colleagues in the EU to define the atrocities committed in Darfur as genocide. [215262]
Mr. Mullin: The UK pressed for the establishment of an expert International Commission of Inquiry (ICI) by the UN to investigate the atrocities in Darfur, and determine whether genocide had been committed. The ICI's report, issued to the Security Council on 31 January 2005, concluded that while the Government of Sudan had not pursued a policy of genocide in Darfur, a competent court" would need to decide whether certain individuals had done so, and that the Government of Sudan, the Arab militias and the rebels are all guilty of serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law, which may amount to crimes against humanity and/or war crimes.
We are now discussing with EU partners and Security Council members how best to take forward the ICI's recommendations.
Glenda Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional resources are being furnished to the African Union by the (a) UK, (b) EU and (c) UN to assist its attempts to resolve the crisis in Darfur. [215270]
Mr. Mullin:
We strongly support the African Union (AU) mission in Darfur. Since May 2004 we have provided more than £14 million in funding, from which we have provided logistical support including 143 vehicles, with a further delivery of 470 vehicles to take place soon. A UK officer also provides planning support to the AU and we have a UK observer on the ground.
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The European Commission has provided €92 million to support the AU, and many EU member states are also providing bilateral assistance, including significant logistical support.
The UN is also supporting the AU. A UN Assistance cell was established in Addis Ababa to enhance AU/UN co-operation, and includes military, police and logistics experts. A UN planning team is working closely with AU planners, and a UN military liaison officer is attached to AU headquarters in Darfur. The UN Advance Mission in the Sudan is establishing four officers in Darfur to facilitate liaison and co-operation with the AU mission in the field.
We remain in close contact with the AU, and our partners in the international community, about what further assistance we may be able to provide.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings (a) he, (b) officials in his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have (i)proposed, (ii) scheduled and (iii) had since 7 January with members and representatives of the governments of (A) Argentina, (B) Benin, (C) Brazil, (D) China, (E) Denmark, (F) France, (G) Greece, (H) Japan, (I)Philippines, (J) Romania, (K) Russian Federation, (L) United Republic of Tanzania, (M) United States and (N) Algeria, (1) regarding the situation in Darfur, (2) regarding the Report of the Secretary-General on the Sudan pursuant to paragraphs 6,13, and 16 of Security Council resolution 1556 (2004), paragraph 15 of resolution 1564 (2004) and paragraph 17 of resolution 1574 (2004) and (3) regarding the use of the International Criminal Court to prosecute war crimes committed in (X) Darfur and (Y) Sudan in general; when each of these meetings took place; what specific proposals were (V) proposed and (W) accepted; and if he will make a statement. [215405]
Mr. Mullin: We have regular discussions at all levels with our fellow members of the UN Security Council regarding the situation in Darfur. Following the publication of the report of the International Commission of Inquiry, which recommended referring those accused of war crimes in Darfur to the International Criminal Court, we are actively discussing the way forward with our Security Council partners.
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the (a) strategy and (b) actions of the US Administration to promote the establishment of a temporary UN-African Union court in Arusha, Tanzania to handle war crimes prosecutions with regard to Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [215414]
Mr. Mullin:
We are studying US proposals for a Sudan Tribunal based on the infrastructure of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Our initial analysis is that this option is less preferable than a Security Council referral of Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as recommended by the International Commission of Inquiry's report into the crimes in Darfur which was transmitted to the Security Council on 31 January.
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While an ICC referral is our preferred option, the ICC Statute is clear that a state which is not party to the ICC Statute—such as Sudan—can only be referred to the ICC by a decision of the Security Council. This will require consensus in the Council. We will study all options put forward by Security Council partners.
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