Previous Section Index Home Page

15 Jun 2005 : Column 479W—continued

Russia

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being taken to help Russia secure its (a) nuclear material and (b) facilities against terrorism. [4632]

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.

The UK is currently implementing a series of projects under the Global Partnership programme to enhance security of nuclear materials across the former Soviet Union (FSU). In addition to projects already completed at the Atomflot port in Murmansk, negotiations are under way to support an enhanced physical protection programme at the Nikiet Institute in Moscow. Further discussions are underway with the Russian authorities to identify potential future projects for UK support. The planned budget for nuclear security work under the Global Partnership is £4 million for this financial year.
 
15 Jun 2005 : Column 480W
 

A number of other countries involved in the Global Partnership programme, most notably the US, Canada and Germany have portfolios of projects to address security of nuclear materials and facilities. The UK is working closely with these and other countries to maximise the impact of our assistance, for example through increasing the focus on nuclear security in the G8 Nuclear Safety and Security Group which is currently under UK chairmanship.

Sierra Leone

Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received a report from the UK high commission in Sierra Leone relating to the work of that country's anti-corruption commission; and if he will make a statement. [3931]

Ian Pearson: We receive regular reports from the high commission on the anti-corruption commission's progress. We also receive the commission's annual reports. The commission has a vital role to play in co-ordinating the Government's efforts to detect and prevent corruption. The UK, at the request of the Government of Sierra Leone, helped to establish the commission. We are its main external supporter, providing funds and specialist expatriate staff.

Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the Sierra Leone Truth and Reconciliation Commission as soon as it is made available to him; and if he will make a statement. [3932]

Ian Pearson: As soon as the full report of the commission is published, a copy will be placed in the Library.

Sudan

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution the UK plans to make to (a) witness protection and (b) an effective investigation team in the recently announced International Criminal Court case regarding genocide, war crimes and crime against humanity in Darfur. [3094]

Ian Pearson: The Government concluded a general agreement in 2004 with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to provide witness protection services at the request of the Court.

The Court will carry out its investigations in Darfur and elsewhere in an entirely independent capacity. In order to respect this independence, and to protect the integrity of the Court's operations, it would not be appropriate to comment on the operational aspects of specific ICC investigations; nor to reveal what support the UK is providing. The UK remains ready to consider any specific request put forward by the Court.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the decision to pursue a case against alleged perpetrators of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur through the International Criminal Court. [3095]

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary held numerous discussions with a number of Security Council foreign ministers, including with his
 
15 Jun 2005 : Column 481W
 
US counterpart, in the weeks preceding the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1593 which referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court. The US abstained, but did not veto this resolution, and has made clear its strong support for putting on trial those allegedly responsible for serious international crimes in Darfur.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the UK is taking to deal with the situation in Darfur. [3295]

Ian Pearson [holding answer 14 June 2005]: We are gravely concerned by the situation in Darfur and are playing a leading role in pressing for peace there. We were closely involved in the recent Security Council resolutions on Sudan, which extended the arms embargo in Darfur to the Government of Sudan and imposed sanctions against individuals who violate human rights and obstruct the peace process. We sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 1593, which referred the situation in Darfur to the International Criminal Court.

The African Union (AU) mission in Darfur is having a positive impact on security there and we fully support their decision to expand the mission to over 7,000 personnel. We have committed more than £20 million to the AU to date, mainly in logistical support, including delivery of nearly 600 vehicles.

Since October 2003 we have provided more than £74 million in humanitarian aid to Darfur, making us the second largest bilateral donor. We have set aside £119.5 million for our work in Sudan this financial year.

We will continue to press all sides to reach a political settlement for Darfur. To this end, we welcome the resumption of the Abuja peace talks. A UK representative will attend the talks on their resumption, and will provide advice to the parties in support of the AU's mediation work.

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the leaders of the Arab League to take steps to assist in resolving the situation in Darfur. [3655]

Ian Pearson: The UK is greatly concerned about the crisis in Darfur. We are urging all sides to work together to find a political solution to the conflict. We regularly press other members of the international community, including the Arab League, to do what they can to support the African Union (AU) mediation at the Darfur peace talks in Abuja, and to use their influence with the parties to get them to engage constructively in political dialogue. To this end, we welcome the recent Heads of State Darfur summit in Tripoli, at which Egypt, Libya, Chad, Nigeria and Gabon called for the resumption of peace talks, and secured the commitment of the Government of Sudan to attend and engage in good faith. We welcome the resumption, on 10 June, of peace talks in Abuja. A UK Representative is present to provide support to the parties.

Uganda

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the outcome of the recent London debate on the constitutional amendment in Uganda. [4075]


 
15 Jun 2005 : Column 482W
 

Ian Pearson: It is important that any constitutional changes have the genuine confidence of the people and their representatives. We therefore welcome public debate of this kind. We continue to urge the Government of Uganda to ensure that all political change, including amendments to the Constitution, follows the procedures set out in the Constitution, respects the rule of law and institutions of governance, and is free from physical intimidation or manipulation.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the steps taken by the Government of Uganda to deal with institutional corruption in that country. [4077]

Ian Pearson: We welcome the publication of the Government of Uganda's 2005 National Strategy to Fight Corruption, which acknowledges that corruption is a serious problem in Uganda. Progress has been made in establishing the basic institutional and legislative framework. The UK has been providing practical support for these government led initiatives. But more remains to be done. For example, there has been little follow through on any of the recent Commissions of Inquiry related to corruption issues.

Uzbekistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the United States Administration regarding the human rights record of the Government of Uzbekistan. [2627]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: On 17 May 2005 my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed recent events in Andijan with US Secretary of State Rice in Washington. Like the UK, the US has condemned reports of the Uzbek Government's disproportionate use of force in Andijan and has called for an independent, international investigation into Andijan. On 8 June 2005 the State Department press spokesman, Sean McCormack, noted that there had been many reliable eyewitness accounts of Uzbek forces shooting civilians, and that it was now clear hundreds of innocent civilians had been killed. He also reiterated the US call for an independent, international investigation, stating that it was important


Next Section Index Home Page