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5 Jun 2006 : Column 312W—continued
Mr. Hoon: We make frequent representations to the Colombian Government on human rights issues, through our embassy in Bogota, through the EU and other international groupings, and in contacts with visiting Colombian officials in London. We also regularly raise specific cases of concern with the Colombian Government. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, most recently did so with Foreign Minister Barco of Colombia on 12 May in the margins of the European Union-Latin America and Caribbean summit in Vienna. Human rights are at the heart of our policy towards Colombia. We consistently urge the Colombian Government to implement recommendations arising from successive annual reports of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights and have offered to help them to do so.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the prospects for peace in Colombia in the lead up to presidential elections. [74293]
Mr. Hoon: There are some encouraging signs. As indicated in the Ministerial Conclusions on Colombia of the Council of the European Union in October last year, we and other EU member states consider that the effective and transparent implementation of the Law on Justice and Peace, under which more than 30,000 paramilitaries in Colombia have now demobilised, will have a positive impact on peace-building in Colombia.
The Colombian Government are talking actively with the National Liberation Army, a left-wing illegal armed group. The last round of talks took place in Cuba last month, and further talks are scheduled for later this year. However, the Colombian Government's recent efforts to begin preliminary talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the countries biggest illegal armed group, have been consistently rejected by the guerrillas. We hope that, after the elections, the incoming government will continue actively to promote peace in Colombia. We will continue to support Colombia in its efforts to tackle the inter-connected problems arising from the internal armed conflict, the trade in illegal drugs and human rights abuses.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the Government of Colombia on the use of military justice for civilians caught up in violent episodes. [74294]
Mr. Hoon:
We encourage the Colombian Government to ensure that the civilian justice system is used where appropriate, rather than the military justice system. Indeed, the UK is currently funding a project in support of the reform of the Colombian military justice system, aimed at making it more transparent and accountable. One of the additional objectives of the reforms is to ensure there is a very clear delineation between those cases where military justice procedures are applicable and those that should be dealt with by civilian courts. The subordination of the military justice system to the civil system is fundamental to this
reform process. We will continue to work with the Colombian authorities to help improve this key area of governance.
Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 8 February 2006, transferred from the Department of Trade and Industry on 5 April. [74447]
Mr. McCartney: I replied to the hon. Member today.
Cuba
Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the position of the UK Government will be at the EU review of the Common Position on Cuba in June 2006. [73515]
Mr. Hoon: The UK's policy towards Cuba, which is shared with our EU partners, is set out in the EU Common Position of 1996. The main objective of the Common Position is to encourage a peaceful transition to pluralist democracy in Cuba.
We are maintaining a close dialogue with our EU partners ahead of the review of the EU common position in June. As part of this process, we have been monitoring closely developments in the political and human rights situation in Cuba over the last year. Taking our findings into account, we will seek a consensus view with our EU partners in June.
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what position the Government will take during discussion of the European Union’s Common Position on Cuba in June; and if she will make a statement. [74736]
Mr. Hoon: The UK’s policy towards Cuba, which is shared with our EU partners, is set out in the EU Common Position of 1996. The main objective of the Common Position is to encourage a peaceful transition to pluralist democracy in Cuba.
We are maintaining a close dialogue with our EU partners ahead of the review of the EU Common Position in June. As part of this process, we have been monitoring closely developments in the political and human rights situation in Cuba over the last year. Taking our findings into account, we will seek a consensus view with our EU partners in June.
Departmental Bills (Amendments)
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will list the occasions when an amendment has been moved by (a) a Labour Back Bencher, (b) an Opposition Back Bencher and (c) an Opposition Front Bench spokesman to a Bill sponsored by her Department that has been accepted by her Department during the 2005-06 Session; and if she will make a statement. [72117]
Margaret Beckett: There have been no such occasions. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has led on two Government Bills in the current Session. The European Union (Accessions) Bill passed through both Houses without amendment and has received Royal Assent. The European Union Bill has been read the first time in this House and has been printed, but has not made further progress.
Departmental Estate
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make it her policy to furnish UK embassies and high commissions with furniture made in the UK; and if she will make a statement. [74637]
Mr. Hoon: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office aims to furnish embassies and high commissions with contemporary furniture taking account of health and safety, sustainability, the availability of supplies and local climatic factors. Decisions on procurement are taken in accordance with relevant UK and EU rules. Our missions furnish properties with furniture made in the UK when it represents best value for money to the British taxpayer.
East Timor
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the United Kingdom is giving to East Timor following the deployment of UN troops as part of a peacekeeping mission. [75186]
Mr. McCartney: The East Timorese Government asked for the assistance of Australia, Portugal, Malaysia and New Zealand to dispatch defence and security forces under bilateral arrangements. We have, as a member of the UN Security Council, expressed our full support for these deployments and for the intention of the UN Secretary-General to send a special envoy to East Timor in order to facilitate the political dialogue.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the United Nations and member states about ensuring that Indonesian military officers named in the Report of East Timor's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation for either violations or command responsibility for troops accused of violations are brought to justice. [75206]
Mr. McCartney: We have had no discussions in the UN about the Report of East Timor's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR). It is for the UN Secretary-General to decide whether to disseminate the report within the UN for discussion in the Security Council.
The UK has consistently expressed concern about impunity for those responsible for the human rights abuses in East Timor, particularly in 1999. We helped
support the CAVR and the Special Panels processes, and we also helped fund the Commission of Experts' report.
We note the decision of the Government of East Timor to pursue these issues with Indonesia through their bilateral Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF). We have encouraged both Governments to make the CTF a process that enjoys the confidence of the victims and the international community.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will publish the Government's response to the ‘Report of East Timor's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation’, officially submitted to her Department in February. [75263]
Mr. McCartney: We have made no formal response to the Report.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she has made representations to the Government of East Timor about the alleged human rights violations recently committed by members of the police force in East Timor. [75264]
Mr. McCartney: Our ambassador in Dili speaks to the Government of East Timor on the subject of police behaviour on regular occasions, and we are involved in a training and development programme with the national police. We are encouraging the Government of East Timor to take all necessary steps to end the current violence with clue respect for human rights and to restore a secure and stable environment.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the internal situation in East Timor; and if she will make a statement. [75268]
Mr. McCartney: We are concerned by the deterioration of the situation in East Timor and the resulting casualties and urge all concerned to bring an end to the violence and resolve the problems within the framework of the constitution and laws.
We welcome the quick response of the countries approached by the East Timorese Government to provide assistance and the wider support for this of the international community through the UN. We have, as a member of the UN Security Council, expressed our full support for deployment of international troops and for the decision of the UN Secretary-General to send a special envoy to East Timor in order to facilitate the political dialogue.
Our ambassador in Dili is liaising closely with the Government of East Timor and other embassies.
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Australia about the peacekeeping force being sent to East Timor. [75269]
Mr. McCartney:
My right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the Government
of Australia about the international forces being deployed to East Timor, but our officials have been liaising closely with the Australians in Dili, Canberra and in the UN.
The East Timorese Government asked for assistance from Australia, Portugal, Malaysia and New Zealand to dispatch defence and security forces under bilateral arrangements. The UK has not been asked to provide troops but is fully supportive of these deployments and has played an active role in gaining the support of the UN Security Council.
Eid-Ul-Adha
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff from her Department attended the Civil Service Islamic Society Eid-Ul-Adha event in London in 2005; and what the total cost was to her Department of their attendance. [73031]
Mr. Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will write to the hon. Member with details of the Civil Service Islamic Society Eid-Ul-Adha event. Copies of her letter will be placed in the Library.
Engagements
Mr. Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the last six months she or her predecessor has received a request to meet the ambassador or high commissioner of (a) Georgia, (b) Bulgaria, (c) Mozambique, (d) Kazakhstan and (e) Chile; and on how many occasions he or she acceded to such a request. [74505]
Mr. Hoon: I am not aware of any requests from the ambassadors or high commissioners of the named countries to meet my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, or her predecessor, in the last six months. However we maintain good relations with all the countries concerned and ambassadors and high commissioners routinely accompany senior level visitors from their countries on any ministerial calls in the UK.
Equatorial Guinea
Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Government of Equatorial Guinea concerning the extradition request of UK citizen Simon Mann from Zimbabwe to that country. [74618]
Dr. Howells:
We are aware that the Equatorial Guinean authorities are seeking Simon Mann’s extradition from Zimbabwe. We are providing all appropriate consular assistance to Mr. Mann and his next of kin in the UK and will remain in contact with them as legal proceedings progress. At this stage, we
have no plans to raise Mr. Mann’s case with the Government of Equatorial Guinea.
Ethiopia/Eritrea
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the British Government have made to (a) the USA, (b) the EU, (c) the UN, (d) the African Union and (e) Nigeria as guarantors of the final and binding Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission ruling in 2001; what steps the British Government have taken directly in relation to the two countries to ensure that this agreement is implemented; what role the five guarantors have in such implementation; and what steps she is taking to reduce the tension arising as a result of the non-implementation of the agreement. [74621]
Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Alpha Konare, on 22 May. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met the US Assistant Secretary of State on 16 May and Alpha Konare on 22 May and discussed a range of issues including the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute. Officials regularly discuss the question with EU colleagues at Africa working groups, and we play an active part in the preparation of relevant UN Security Council Resolutions; the most recent of which was agreed on 31 May. Nigeria is not a witness to the Algiers Agreement.
The witnesses to the Algiers Agreement met in New York in February, preparing the way for meetings of the Boundary Commission to resume in London.
Bilaterally we continue to urge both parties to implement the Boundary Commission's decision and to demarcate their common frontier. We continue to press Eritrea to lift its restrictions on the UN Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea to allow it to fulfil its mandate. Alongside our commitment to the Boundary Commission decision, we urge on both sides and at the UN Security Council steps to normalise relations on either side of the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Ethiopia on the border dispute with Eritrea over Badme; what the Ethiopian Government's position was on the issue; when she expects demarcation to begin in and around Badme; and if she will make a statement. [74641]
Mr. McCartney: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, raised the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute with the new Ethiopian ambassador on 14 March and our ambassador in Addis Ababa discussed it with Prime Minister Meles on 20 May.
It is not for the Government to comment on the Ethiopian Government's position on this issue. The
Ethiopian Government have engaged in two meetings of the Ethiopia Eritrea Boundary Commission in London to discuss border demarcation and further discussions are planned.
We continue to urge both parties to implement the Boundary Commission's decision and to demarcate their common frontier. In this context, we have taken an active role in the UN Security Council which confirmed, on 31 May (UN Security Council Resolution 1681), commitment to both resolution of the border demarcation and normalisation of relations between both countries on either side of the border.
EU External Relations
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the concept paper on EU external relations tabled by the Commission President. [74473]
Dr. Howells: The Commission President, Mr. Barroso, has yet to submit to the full Commission his paper on the EU's external relations. However, I understand that he plans to do this on 7 June 2006 and to then put the paper before the June European Council on 15-16 June 2006.
We will of course set out the Government's view of the paper in an explanatory memorandum to the House, once we have received it.
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