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Ethiopia/Eritrea

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Ethiopian Government concerning the recent violence in Ethiopia, with particular reference to relations between the Ethiopian People's Democratic Front and the opposition Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party; and if he will make a statement. [27599]

Ian Pearson: We are gravely concerned about the outbreak of violence in Ethiopia since 1 November which has resulted in a number of deaths and injuries and a large number of detentions, including of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy leadership and civil society and media leaders.

On 6 November, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) spoke to Prime Minister Meles. This followed action by my noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa (Lord Triesman of Tottenham) who summoned the Ethiopian Charge" d'Affaires on
 
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1 November to register our concerns. Our ambassador in Ethiopia has also raised our concerns with both Prime Minister Meles and with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister.

In our capacity as presidency of the European Union, our ambassador to Ethiopia held a press conference in Addis Ababa with the United States ambassador on 6 November, where we called for the Government to restore peace and confidence in the democracy building process by ensuring due process of law and respect for human rights.

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Government of Ethiopia and (b) the Government of Eritrea regarding the escalation of tensions along the Ethiopia-Eritrea border. [26989]

Ian Pearson: We are working within the United Nations Security Council to ensure that the matter is urgently addressed. A UN resolution on this issue is currently being discussed. We are also working with European Union (EU) partners to urge the Eritreans to lift the restrictions put on UN helicopter flights and vehicle movements. As EU presidency, our ambassador to Ethiopia also raised this issue with Prime Minister Meles and urged continuing restraint. My noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa (Lord Triesman of Tottenham) made this clear to the Eritrean ambassador on 28 July and again on 18 October.

Foreign Decorations

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a previous decision by the Government to award a campaign service medal or clasp is a relevant factor in decisions taken subsequently to grant or refuse permission for a medal offered by a foreign government in respect of the same campaign to be (a) accepted and (b) worn. [30620]

Mr. Straw: Yes, I am informed that such decisions have been seen as relevant factors in decisions relating to the subsequent accepting and wearing of non-British awards.

G8 Global Partnership

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 31 October 2005, Official Report, columns 753–54W, on non-proliferation, what assessment he has made of whether instruments being defined for the next Financial Perspective 2007 to 2013 will allow community financing to support projects being implemented through legal and administrative frameworks created by countries participating in the G8 Global Partnership. [28483]

Mr. Straw: We believe that only those measures to support the G8 Global Partnership that fall within Community competence should be financed by Community instruments. This means that not all projects to support the G8 Global Partnership can be funded by Community Instruments. However, there are also proposals on the table for a Joint Action in support of specific Global Partnership projects, to be funded from the Common Foreign and Security Policy budget.
 
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As I said in my answer of 31 October 2005, Official Report, columns 753–54W, on non-proliferation, we want to ensure that the overall package agreed for the EU's next Financial Perspective provides sufficient resources to allow the Community to contribute to the EU's non proliferation objectives, including those under the Global Partnership, within an overall budget of no more than 1 per cent. of EU Gross National Income.

Holy See

Mr. Mackay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who has been appointed as the UK's Ambassador to the Holy See; when the announcement was made public; how it was publicised; what the new Ambassador's (a) background and (b) experience is; and if he will make a statement. [29794]

Mr. Straw: Mr. Francis Campbell has been appointed as the next British Ambassador to the Holy See. The appointment was announced, in the usual way, in an FCO press notice on 15 November 2005. The Permanent Under Secretary also wrote to the Foreign Affairs Committee to inform them of the appointment. I have arranged for copies of the press notice, which includes Mr. Campbell's CV, to be placed in the Library of the House.

Iran

Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Iran has imposed restrictions on UK imports; and if he will make a statement. [26996]

Dr. Howells: We have received a number of reports about recent restrictions on the import into Iran of goods of UK origin. The Iranian authorities have not confirmed that restrictions are in place. UK Trade and Investment and the British embassy in Tehran are advising British companies in response to individual inquiries and via their websites. We continue to monitor the situation.

Iraq

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds from the Development Fund for Iraq are not accounted for. [28404]

Mr. Straw: The Government are not aware that there are any funds from the Development Fund for Iraq unaccounted for. Although the audit of the Development Fund for Iraq's financial management under the Coalition Provisional Authority between May 2003 and June 2004, carried out by the US Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction and the external auditor KPMG, found $8.8 billion of funds to have less than adequate financial controls, the audit did not assert that this money could not be accounted for.

The UK, alongside the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other donors, continues to work with the Iraqi Government to improve accountability and transparency in Iraq's public finances.
 
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Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Carmarthen, East and Dinefwr (Adam Price) of 1 November 2005, Official Report, columns 949–50W, on Iraq, if he will place in the Library a copy of the survey to which he refers; and whether he has any plans to fund further such surveys. [28787]

Dr. Howells: A copy of the public opinion survey will be placed in the Library of the House. There are no plans to carry out any further similar surveys.

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 174W, on the Iraq-Niger uranium deal, if he will ascertain from Senator Rockefeller's office when the Senator expects his investigation to report; and if he will place the information he receives in the Library. [28820]

Dr. Howells: We have asked the Federal Bureau of Investigation when their investigation will be completed, but they are not yet in a position to give any indication.

Ivory Coast

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement of the arms embargo imposed upon the Ivory Coast. [27023]

Ian Pearson: The Government's assessment of the effectiveness of the arms embargo on Cote d'Ivoire is based on the reports of the UN group of experts, set up by the UN Security Council to monitor the arms embargo. In its latest report, the group of experts stated that, since the imposition of the arms embargo on Cote d'Ivoire the Government of Cote d'Ivoire has restrained procurement of weapons and munitions. The group found no evidence of recent deliveries of weapons and ammunition to the most prominent militias. However, the group of experts did highlight some cases where the embargo may have been breached. The UN Security Council is now carefully considering these cases. The UK continues, through its membership of the UN Security Council and relevant UN Sanctions Committee, to press for robust enforcement of the UN arms embargo.

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