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Diplomatic Posts
Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effects on UK interests in South America he expects there to be as a result of the closure of the British embassy in Asuncio"n, Paraguay. [217754]
Mr. Rammell [holding answer 28 February 2005]: The decision to close the British embassy in Asuncio"n was taken based on the need to align our resources with our priorities, to maximise efficiency and ensure that the UK has a cost-effective and flexible network of overseas representation.
Her Majesty's Government continue to engage actively with Latin American Governments. I have travelled extensively in the region, taking the opportunity to discuss important bilateral and multilateral issues. The UK and Latin America share many values and international concerns and I have no doubt that our strong links will continue.
As we have made clear to the Paraguayan Government, we aim to conduct future relations and look after UK interests, via the accreditation of our ambassador in Buenos Aires and through the appointment of an honorary consul in Asuncio"n.
EU Constitutional Treaty
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how he plans to co-ordinate his Department's efforts to promote the Constitutional Treaty for the European Union with the EU Parliament's task force. [218227]
Mr. MacShane: I have no such plans.
EU Enlargement
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of Article 1–5 of the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe on (a) future internal enlargement of the EU whereby part of an existing member state becomes a separate member state of the EU, (b) transfer of territory from one member state to another and (c) the scope of possible arrangements between the UK and Spain on the future of Gibraltar. [218323]
Mr. MacShane: In relation to (a) and (b) , the hypothetical implications, legal and political, of part of an existing EU member state becoming independent or of the transfer of territory from one member state to another would have to be considered at the time in thelight of all the circumstances. In relation to (c) the EU Constitutional Treaty preserves continuity for Gibraltar's status.
European Constitution
Mr. Davidson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) a
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decision in Parliament and (b) a referendum will be required for the accessions of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey to the EU if the European Constitution is ratified and accession negotiations are successful. [218018]
Mr. MacShane: Romania and Bulgaria officially closed their accession negotiations at the European Council in December 2004. The EU will sign an Accession Treaty with both countries on 25 April with the aim of completing their accession on 1 January 2007. As in the case of previous enlargements, a referendum is not necessary but legislation will be needed to amend the European Communities Act 1972 to give effect to the Accession Treaty in UK law. The same procedure will apply for Turkey if its accession negotiations are successful.
For applications made after entry into force of the Constitutional Treaty, there would be one change to the existing procedures. The existing Treaties require an application to join the EU to be addressed to the Council". The Constitutional Treaty would require, in addition, that in future
But the remaining stages of an accession process (including those in the UK) would, under the Constitutional Treaty, proceed along the same lines as at present.
European Court of Justice
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the (a) name and (b) nationality is of each member of the European Court of Justice; and if he will list for each member (i)any known political affiliation, (ii) any known religious affiliation or denomination and (iii) any known membership of trade unions, Masonic organisations, religious groups or other bodies. [218427]
Mr. MacShane: The members of the European Court of Justice are:
Like judges in most democracies members of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) are not required to disclose the religious, political or other details sought by the hon. Member. Details of the members' backgrounds can, however, be found on the ECJ website: http://www.curia.eu.int/.
Iraq
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his statement on Iraq on 31 January 2005, Official Report, column 573, what the source is of the statement that the remains of 300,000 people had been buried in mass graves in Iraq; and what steps the Government have taken to verify these figures. [214216]
Mr. Rammell: In May 2003 Human Rights Watch estimated that there were at least 290,000 people missing in Iraq and stated
USAID is quoted as estimating in January this year that there are between 260 and 270 mass graves in Iraq and they estimate that between 300,000 and 400,000 people are buried in them. More recent estimates of the number of mass graves have revised the figure downward to 187. The final figure will not be known until all the graves have been completely exhumed. The figures we have used are the best estimates available to us at the moment.
We are working with the authorities in Iraq and in co-ordination with the United Nations to establish a national centre for missing persons and exhumations policy in Baghdad. It will provide the forensic and social expertise to manage the sensitive task of helping reunite families with the remains of their lost relatives and provide forensic evidence to support prosecutions of those who perpetrated mass murder. We have provided training for forensic and other experts who will carry out the exhumations and we are also providing judicial, prosecutor and investigator training for the Iraq Special Tribunal tasked with bringing to justice those responsible for mass killings in Iraq. So far one gravesite in Hatra has been partially exhumed to obtain forensic evidence for prosecutions and a second exhumation is planned soon. No official humanitarian exhumations have begun partly due to poor security but also because the infrastructure has not yet been established to manage this properly. We will continue to work with the Iraqi authorities and the United Nations to establish this infrastructure so that humanitarian exhumations can start as soon as possible.
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