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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

Cyprus

5. Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the UN on new talks on Cyprus. [5699]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: There have been no recent discussions with the UN at ministerial level about new talks on Cyprus.

We look forward, however, to hearing Sir Kieran Prendergast's ideas about the possibility of future talks when he reports to the UN Security Council following his fact-finding mission to the region.

Non-proliferation Treaty

13. Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the non-proliferation treaty review conference. [5707]

Dr. Howells: The UK's objective for the NPT review conference was to achieve a substantive outcome that strengthened the treaty. Regrettably, failure by states parties to agree an agenda meant there was not enough time to negotiate a substantive final document. Even so, the conference was able to discuss practical ways to strengthen the non-proliferation regime. We will take forward these ideas wherever we can over the coming months.

African Union

14. Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the support provided by international organisations for the African Union in Darfur. [5708]

Ian Pearson: NATO, the EU and the UN are working closely together to provide co-ordinated and complementary assistance to the African Union mission in Darfur. We continue to play a leading role in supporting the African Union mission, and are in close contact with all three organisations on this issue.

Middle East

16. Mr. McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made on the Middle East Roadmap to peace. [5710]

Dr. Howells: There have been some encouraging signs, including increased contact between the parties and a substantial reduction of violence. The situation is fragile, but we will work with the parties and international partners to maintain the momentum of progress. We will continue to work towards progress on the Roadmap.

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on Israeli disengagement from Gaza. [5709]

 
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Dr. Howells: Israeli disengagement from Gaza and part of the West Bank is due to start in mid-August. Disengagement is an important step. Withdrawal should be as full as possible and co-ordinated with the Palestinians. And we encourage the Palestinian Authority to make the most of this opportunity. We welcome the work of James Wolfensohn as the Quartet's representative on disengagement.

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Government policy on the Middle East peace process. [5712]

Dr. Howells: The UK remains committed to progress on the Roadmap. We welcome disengagement as an important first step. We are working with the parties and the international community in order to maximise the benefits of disengagement and keep up the momentum of recent progress. In doing so we support the work of US security co-ordinator General Ward and the Quartet's disengagement representative James Wolfensohn.

Hamas

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer on 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 136W, on Hamas, on what date (a) officials and (b) representatives in the region advised him to authorise contacts with members of Hamas. [6214]

Dr. Howells: Circumstances in the occupied territories changed last December when members of Hamas, who had previously boycotted the democratic process, participated in, and were elected in. local elections. Discussions with officials and representatives in the region since this time led to the authorisation of some low-level contacts with elected representatives. No further meetings are currently planned.

Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer on 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 136W, on Hamas, on what dates he has held discussions with (a) Israel and (b) the Palestinian authority concerning meetings between his officials and members of Hamas; and if he will make a statement. [6215]

Dr. Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 136W.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed these contacts with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom and Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on 7 June and Abu Mazen on 8 June.

Iraq

17. Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Iraqi authorities on the proposed new constitution for Iraq. [5711]

Dr. Howells: The Secretary of State discussed Iraq's constitutional process with the members of the Iraqi Government, the National Assembly, and other political groups when he accompanied the EU Troika to Baghdad on 9 June.
 
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I had discussions yesterday with representatives from the Iraqi Islamic Party on the constitution process and they told me that they will be examining the question of choosing 15 additional Sunni members to be added to the Constitutional Committee (that is drafting the new constitution) and the 10 Sunni advisors to that Committee.

Turkey (EU Accession)

19. Jeremy Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards Turkey's accession to the European Union. [5713]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The EU agreed at the European Council in December 2004 to open accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October 2005 provided that Turkey brought into force six pieces of outstanding legislation and signed the Protocol extending the Ankara Agreement to the 10 new member states.

All six pieces of legislation are now in force, and we expect the Protocol to be signed soon. The European Council on Friday unanimously adopted conclusions which

referred to its conclusions of December 2004 on enlargement and highlighted the need to implement them fully".

The position is therefore clear. Provided it meets the conditions, accession negotiations with Turkey should open on 3 October.

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the Netherlands and France voting against the EU Constitution on the prospect for the accession of Turkey to the EU. [5695]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The European Council unanimously adopted conclusions on 17 June which

referred to its conclusions of June and December 2004 on enlargement and highlighted the need to implement them fully."

The December 2004 European Council agreed to open accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October 2005 provided that Turkey brought into force six pieces of outstanding legislation and signed the Protocol extending the Ankara Agreement to the 10 new member states. The position is therefore clear. Provided it meets the conditions, accession negotiations with Turkey should open on 3 October.

North Korea

21. Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on UK relations with North Korea. [5715]

Ian Pearson: Embassies opened in Pyongyang and London after the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the UK and the DPRK in December 2000. Our relationship with the DPRK is one of constructive engagement. We take every opportunity to make clear our views on issues of international concern, notably the DPRK's nuclear weapons programme and widespread reports of human rights abuses.
 
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Falkland Islands

22. Mr. Lindsay Hoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the Falkland Islands Government and the Argentinian Government. [5716]

Mr. Douglas Alexander: The Falkland Islands are a United Kingdom overseas territory and as such the United Kingdom Government are responsible for their international relations.

The United Kingdom values its relationship with Argentina and wants it to be as constructive and as positive as possible.

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