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Madagascar

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the arrangements are for UK diplomatic representation in Madagascar; and what plans he has to change these arrangements. [2144]

Ian Pearson: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced on 15 December 2004, Official Report, columns 137–40WS, we will shortly be closing the British embassy in Antananarivo, Madagascar. After the British embassy closes, relations with Madagascar will be covered from our high commission in Port Louis, Mauritius supported by an honorary consul in Antananarivo.

Military Equipment Trafficking

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what mechanisms the new powers to control trafficking and brokering in military equipment by UK citizens will be enforced. [1395]

Dawn Primarolo: I am replying as Minister for HM Revenue and Customs who are responsible for enforcing the controls on trafficking and brokering in military equipment. Enforcement in this area is, in the main, intelligence led. HMRC will assess any information that suggests a trafficking and brokering offence has been committed in the United Kingdom, or has been committed overseas by UK citizens. Depending on their assessment, Customs will either visit the trader using their regulatory powers to inspect records and to require information or will conduct a full investigation using their powers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

Where it is necessary to gather evidence overseas, Customs will do so using applicable mutual assistance arrangements where they are in place. Where there is sufficient evidence that a UK national has committed an offence overseas, Customs could put out a warrant for his arrest on return to the UK or consider extradition.
 
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Customs will normally seek prosecution in all cases where there has been a deliberate breach of the controls. They will review the evidence with the Revenue and Customs Prosecution Office who will advise whether there is sufficient evidence and whether prosecution is in the public interest.

Russia

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to encourage the Russian Government to promote and protect human rights; and if he will make a statement. [1031]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: We are actively engaged in a bilateral human rights dialogue with the Russian Government. The latest round of talks was held in Moscow on 23 May 2005 and included discussion of the situation in Chechnya, media freedoms, prison conditions and progress on the judicial reform agenda in Russia. We also discussed opportunities for building on current co-operation through on-going project work, notably in the area of penal reform.

We are also engaged, with our European partners, in the biannual EU-Russia human rights consultations. The first session of consultations took place in Luxembourg on 1 March 2005. The next round of consultations is scheduled to take place under the UK Presidency of the EU on 8 September 2005.

In addition to this, staff at our Embassy in Moscow continue to raise our concerns with their interlocutors in the Russian government, including with official institutions in Russia that exist to protect and promote human rights.

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made to the Russian Government in relation to (a) Russian involvement in the Iranian atomic energy programme, (b) freedom of the media, (c) the move to a wholly party-list system for state duma elections and (d) ending election of regional governors; and if he will make a statement. [1032]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: We have an intensive dialogue with the Russians at all levels on the Iranian nuclear programme. This nuclear programme is of concern to the UK and to Russia, who fully support the E3 negotiating process and have made clear their strong opposition to Iran seeking to develop or acquire nuclear weapons.

Most recently we raised our concerns about freedom of the media during the latest round of our bilateral human rights dialogue, held in Moscow on 23 May 2005. We also voiced concerns about the freedom of the media in Russia, in unison with our European Partners, during the biannual EU-Russia human rights consultations in March this year. We plan to do so again at the next round of EU-Russia human rights consultations which are scheduled to take place on 8 September 2005 under the UK's Presidency of the EU. In addition to this, staff at our Embassy in Moscow continue to raise concerns with Russian authorities.
 
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We are taking a close interest in intended changes to the electoral system and the impact on the democratic process in Russia. We discuss these issues regularly with the Russian authorities.

We understand President Putin's concern to ensure effective regional administration and note his recent suggestion that the winners of elections to local assemblies may in the future nominate governors to the President. Our Embassy has discussed these plans on a number of occasions with Russian authorities. We hope that all proposed changes will be implemented in accordance with President Putin's stated intention to strengthen democratic institutions in Russia.

Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken since the EU-Russian Summit on 10 May to agree road maps to advance collaboration on the four agreed common spaces; and if he will make a statement. [1237]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: We have already held bilateral discussions on the implementation of the four common spaces with the Russians as part of the preparations for our EU presidency. Russian officials are planning to visit Brussels before the summer to continue these discussions with the EU institutions.

Sudan

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Government of Sudan and (b) the UN concerning arrests and mistreatment of internally displaced persons in Kalma Camp, Nyala. [1285]

Ian Pearson: On 20 May, violent clashes broke out between the police and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kalma IDP camp. The African Union were able quickly to restore order, but a number of IDPs were injured and at least one policeman was killed.

On 22 May, during a visit to Kalma IDP camp, our ambassador in Khartoum raised the recent incident with UN agencies, Non Governmental Organisations and the Government of Sudan. He urged the Government of Sudan to work with the AU to restore confidence between the IDPs and police to prevent a recurrence of this incident in the future.

We regularly press the Government of Sudan on the need for it to respect the human rights of IDPs and to protect its citizens. We will continue to do so.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Sudan on the incident at Kasab Camp, north of Kutum town, north Darfur, when internally displaced persons women were fired on by Janjaweed militia. [1326]

Ian Pearson: On 11 May, Arab militias attacked a group of women from the Kasab camp North Darfur who had left the camp to collect firewood. Several women were raped, one woman was killed and two were seriously injured.

Such attacks are abhorrent and totally unacceptable. We have made, and continue to make clear to the Government of Sudan that they hold the responsibility
 
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for the security of their people, that they must rein in the militia, and that the perpetrators of these crimes must be brought to justice.

The African Union (AU) mission is increasingly co-ordinating its patrols to provide protection to women when they leave populated areas in search of food or firewood. Where this is happening we understand the number of reported attacks has decreased significantly and we are encouraging the AU to promote this practice.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Sudanese authorities concerning the encirclement by Sudanese security forces of the town of Soba Aradi and the arrest of people there. [1342]

Ian Pearson: Following the deaths of three civilians and 14 police officers in the Soba Aradi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Khartoum, on 18 May, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) issued a statement calling on all sides to prevent any further loss of life, and urging the Government of Sudan to respect the human rights of IDPs, protect its citizens and bring those responsible to justice. A copy of the statement is available at http://www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/pressreleases/bennsoba-sudan.asp

Following this incident, tensions in the camp remain high. Through our embassy in Khartoum we have been in regular contact with the Government of Sudan and have pressed them to investigate the incident, in consultation with the Joint (Government of Sudan—Sudan People's Liberation Movement) National Transition Team, and to take the necessary steps to prevent a recurrence in the future. We will continue to do so.

We have repeatedly made clear to the Government of Sudan that all returns and relocations must be entirely voluntary and take place in full and prior consultation with the established international monitoring mechanisms.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Eastern Sudan; and what role the UK Government are playing in reducing tensions in that region. [1639]

Ian Pearson: Tensions in the East remain high. The main eastern opposition groups, the Beja Congress and the Free Lions, have united to form the Eastern Front. We have made clear that there can be no military solution to the problems in the East. We are pressing the Eastern Front and the Government of Sudan to show restraint and to negotiate a political settlement, aimed at bringing the East into the wider political process in Sudan, within the framework of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. To this end we are looking to fund informal consultations between the two parties.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. [1641]

 
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Ian Pearson: The parties expect to complete work on the Interim National Constitution in time for the formation of the Government of National Unity on 9 July. Ahead of this the parties have formed the Joint National Transition Team to drive forward implementation of the wealth and power sharing protocols. The Abyei Boundaries Commission will present its report to the parties by the end of June and the Ceasefire Joint Military Commission met for the first time on 8 May to discuss security arrangements. We are pressing the parties to ensure a fully inclusive political process. To this end they have held a series of talks with both the northern and southern opposition groups.

Due to the challenging nature of implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), and the limited capacity of the parties, some areas of implementation are behind schedule. We will continue to press the parties to implement the agreement and will work to support them in achieving this. To this end we have committed $546 million over the next three years to Sudan and have provided technical expertise to a number of Commissions under the CPA, including the crucial National Constitutional Review Commission. We are also working to support the Joint National Transition Team in forming the remaining Commissions established by the CPA.

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with his counterparts within the EU regarding support for the African Union mission in Darfur; [1687]

(2) what discussions he has had with the NATO Secretary-General regarding support for the African Union mission in Darfur. [1689]

Ian Pearson: We are in close touch with international partners in both the EU and NATO regarding support to the African Union (AU) mission in Darfur. We played a leading role in discussions on Sudan at the EU's General Affairs External Relations Council on 23 May, which reiterated the EU's support for the AU mission, and agreed to provide a substantial offer of support to the AU. At an AU hosted conference on the situation in Darfur in Addis Ababa on 26 May, both the EU and NATO offered their assistance. Approximately $200 million was pledged at this conference. Further offers of support are still being finalised. The UK announced a further £6.6 million in new funding at the conference, taking our total contribution towards the AU's operation in Darfur to more than £20 million. We will continue to work closely with both the EU and NATO to ensure that support to the AU is closely co-ordinated and complementary in responding to the needs of the AU.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent meeting in Addis Ababa hosted by the United Nations Secretary General to discuss Darfur. [1869]

Ian Pearson: The African Union (AU) held a high-level conference on the situation in Darfur in Addis Ababa on 26 May, co-chaired by AU Chairperson, President Konare, and UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. Approximately $200 million of support to the AU mission was pledged at this conference and further
 
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offers of support are still being finalised. The UK announced a further £6.6 million in new funding at the conference, taking our total contribution to the AU's operations in Darfur to more than £20 million. We are working closely with our international partners to ensure that the AU's needs are met, and that international support is provided in a co-ordinated and efficient manner.

The AU Chairperson announced at the conference that the peace talks between the Government of Sudan and the rebels will reconvene in Abuja on 10 June, and that the former Organisation of African Unity Secretary General Salim Salim had been appointed as the chief mediator. A UK representative will attend the talks and offer support to the African Union mediators.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on reports that refugees from Darfur have been killed, attacked and subject to other violence in countries to which they have fled, with particular reference to those who fled to Iraq. [1327]

Ian Pearson: We understand that reprisal attacks were instigated by Sudanese refugees in several Chadian camps and towns during the week of 9–16 May. Chadian authorities and national police had arrested refugee leaders refusing to co-operate with a UN-led registration exercise to verify refugee numbers and thereby reduce excess food distributions. Refugees retaliated by clashing with Chadian security forces; several refugees were injured though no mortalities were reported. UN officials and Chadian authorities share the view that the events were triggered by a small group of individuals eager to retain private and illegitimate benefits they enjoy through inflated numbers of beneficiaries.

We have received no reports of particular targeting of refugees from Darfur in other third countries. Sudanese migrants have long resided in Iraq and in other Gulf states. Sudanese nationals in Iraq are facing the same challenges and insecurity in Iraq as other nationalities. We understand that a section of the Sudanese nationals living in Iraq have decided to move to other countries due to fears for their security.

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