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28 Jun 2006 : Column 436W—continued
DFID’s Civil Society Fund (CSF), totalling £5 million, is supporting projects that strengthen the capacity of Iraq civil society organisations. The CSF has supported partnerships between nine international non-governmental organisations and their networks of Iraqi civil society groups. Projects have helped develop women’s leadership, provided training for Iraqi trade union leaders, developed child rights, supplied social work training and helped build Iraqi capacity in mine risk education. The civil society organisations receiving support include trade unions, women’s groups and humanitarian agencies.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 May 2006, Official Report, column 1989W, on the Iraq medal, when she expects to publish the eligibility criteria for the second Iraq medal. [79668]
Margaret Beckett: The eligibility criteria, together with other details of the Iraq Reconstruction Service Medal, will be published when they have been considered by the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, and approved by Her Majesty the Queen. I hope that this will be done before the House returns after the summer recess.
Joseph Kony
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the reports that the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has accepted an invitation from the Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony to start peace talks; and if she will make a statement. [80287]
Mr. McCartney: President Museveni has indicated a willingness to talk to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) with a view to ending the conflict in northern Uganda. However, we are not aware of any reports that President Museveni has accepted a specific invitation from the LRA to start peace talks. We have seen the media reporting of the meeting between Kony and the Government of Southern Sudan and the reports that they delivered a message from Kony to President Museveni, but the contents of the message have not been shared with us.
The Government of Uganda, along with the Governments of Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo, is obliged to give effect to the International Criminal Court arrest warrants, for the arrest of five LRA Commanders, including Joseph Kony.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance her Department is offering to (a) Uganda, (b) the southern Sudanese and (c) the Democratic Republic of the Congo to arrest the Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony and his commanders for whom the International Criminal Court has issued an international arrest warrant; and if she will make a statement. [80288]
Mr. McCartney:
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued warrants for the arrest of five Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Commanders, including
Joseph Kony, in October 2005. Responsibility to implement the arrest warrants lies in the first instance with the states on whose territory the five LRA commanders are believed to be, namely, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sudan. We have not received any requests for assistance in this regard from the Governments of Uganda, the DRC or Sudan.
The UK is a strong supporter of the work of the ICC in its efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. We continue to urge the Governments of Uganda, the DRC and Sudan to fulfil their commitments to co-operate with the ICC, and to help implement the warrants for the arrest of the five senior LRA commanders, including Kony, as soon as possible.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of reports that South Sudan’s Vice President (a) recently met the Lord’s Resistance Army Chief Joseph Kony, (b) gave Mr. Kony $20,000 and (c) delivered a message from Mr. Kony to Mr. Museveni; and if she will make a statement. [80285]
Mr. McCartney: We have seen the media reporting of the meeting between Joseph Kony and the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and are aware of the associated reports that they have provided financial assistance. We have also seen reports that the GoSS delivered a message from Kony to President Museveni, but the contents of the message have not been shared with us.
We continue to urge the Government of Sudan to fulfil their commitment to co-operate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to help implement the warrants for the arrest of the five senior Lord’s Resistance Army commanders, including Kony, as soon as possible. Our ambassador in Khartoum pressed Salva Kiir, President of the Government of Southern Sudan, on the Government’s ICC obligations on 10 May 2006. The UK-led UN Security Council delegation, which visited southern Sudan on 8 June 2006, also raised the issue with President Kiir.
Legislation
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Private Members’ Bills were drafted by her Department in each Session since 1997; and which of those subsequently received Royal Assent. [77491]
Margaret Beckett: Since 1997 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has assisted in the drafting of one Private Member’s Bill, the Commonwealth Bill, in partnership with the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts). This Bill received Royal Assent in 2002.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans she has for legislation in the next Session of Parliament; and if she will make a statement. [77493]
Margaret Beckett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 16 June 2006 by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House, Official Report, column 1431W.
Madagascar
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2006, Official Report, column 1119W, on Madagascar, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of diplomatic links with Madagascar. [80131]
Mr. McCartney: Once the new non-resident ambassador to and Honorary Consul in Madagascar are accredited, we expect diplomatic links with Madagascar to be adequate to meet our objectives. Our requests for accreditation remain with Malagasy authorities. We await their response.
Palestine
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) when she expects the Quartet aid mechanism to the Palestinians to take effect; and if she will make a statement; [78828]
(2) what representations she has made to her US counterparts regarding the form and implementation of the Quartet aid mechanism to the Palestinians; and if she will make a statement. [78829]
Margaret Beckett: We welcome the agreement on the Temporary International Mechanism reached at the 15 June European Council, and the 17 June Quartet (EU, US, UN and Russia) statement endorsing it. The full text of the statement can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?Pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelertae/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1150454868713.
The UK has played an important role in establishing the mechanism, holding regular discussions with our EU and Quartet partners, including the US. There are still some technical details to work out, but the European Commission and World Bank are now working to set this up as quickly as possible.
We hope parts of the mechanism will begin to deliver support in July.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in establishing new mechanisms for funding the Palestinian people. [80278]
Mr. McCartney: We welcome the agreement on the Temporary International Mechanism reached at 15 June European Council, and the 17 June Quartet (EU, US, UN and Russia) statement endorsing it. The UK has played an important role in establishing the mechanism, holding regular discussions with our EU and Quartet partners, including the US. There are still some technical details to work out but the European Commission and World Bank are now working to set this up as quickly as possible.
We hope parts of the mechanism will begin to deliver support in July.
A copy of the 17 June Quartet statement can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1150454868713.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of law and order in the West Bank and Gaza. [80279]
Mr. McCartney: We remain concerned by the continuing violence in the West Bank and Gaza. All violence in Israel and the Occupied Territories acts as an obstacle to peace. We call for an end to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip on Israeli civilian targets. We also condemn the incursion into Israel by Palestinian militants on 25 June 2006 in which two Israeli soldiers were killed. We support President Abbas’ efforts to restore order, using legally constituted security forces. And we call on the Israeli Government to ensure that any military actions are proportional and ensure that civilians, particularly children, are not harmed.
Project Coast
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information was (a) shared between (b) supplied to and (c) given by those attending the ad hoc meeting held on 13 January 2006 to discuss the Basson/Project Coast handling strategy; what other (i) documents and (ii) knowledge are held by the UK Government about Project Coast; and if she will make a statement. [79315]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer of 27 June 2006]: Participants at the meeting shared draft answers to the parliamentary questions under consideration and discussed these to ensure that they represented consistent, full and accurate answers. The Government hold information from a variety of sources on its files, including from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa on the files from that period. To identify every document would incur disproportionate costs.
Royal Visit (USA)
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, column 2246W, on the Royal visit (USA), what contact representatives of the Prince of Wales's United States Foundation had with her Department's staff during their Highnesses' official visit to the US; which official events organised by the Government they attended; whether they accompanied their Royal Highnesses on the journey between Washington DC and New York; and if she will make a statement. [79235]
Margaret Beckett:
Before the visit by their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to the USA, representatives of the Prince of Wales's US Foundation held discussions with a number of Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff as part of the programme preparations to ensure events ran smoothly. US Foundation representatives attended the reception in Washington hosted by our ambassador, and the New York reception hosted by the consul-general, both held in honour of the Royal Highnesses.
None accompanied the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall on the journey between New York and Washington DC.
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 November 2005, Official Report, columns 2246-7W, on the Royal visit (USA), what each gift which was not a signed photograph was; to whom each gift was presented; and what total costs were reimbursed by her Department for such gifts. [79236]
Margaret Beckett: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 22 June 2006, Official Report, Column 2152W. The total costs of gifts reimbursed was £3,438.38.
The list of gifts, other than signed photographs, which were presented during the visit to the United States is as follows.
Book of the collected essays of Sir Winston Churchill
Paper Knife
Pen Knife (3)
Purse (1)
Hotel Staff
Wallet (2)
Purse (2)
FCO Personnel
Silver Benny Box
Large 2005 Year Box (3)
Pen knife
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2005, Official Report, column 1488W, on the United States (Prince of Wales's visit), whether anyone from the Prince of Wales's United States Foundation accompanied the Prince on his official visit to the US in 2005 at public cost. [79238]
Margaret Beckett: No-one from The Prince of Wales's United States Foundation accompanied His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales on his official visit to the US at public expense.
Somalia
Mr. Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the recent talks between the Somali Government and the Islamic Courts Union militia; and if she will make a statement. [79925]
Mr. McCartney: We welcome any talks destined to resolve Somalia's problems peacefully. We have urged both sides to engage in dialogue and resolve Somalia's conflict through the framework of the transitional charter and the transitional federal institutions.
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the security situation in Somalia. [80320]
Mr. McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd, South (Mr. Jones) today (UIN 79925).
South Korea
Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she had with the South Korean Foreign Minister concerning South Korea's support for the St. Kitts and Nevis Declaration at the recent International Whaling Commission meeting; and if she will make a statement. [80711]
Mr. McCartney: The Declaration was presented to the meeting on 17 June. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed it with her South Korean counterpart.
UK views on whaling are well known.
Special Advisers
Mr. Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what role is played by special advisers in answering parliamentary questions asked of her Department. [80649]
Margaret Beckett: Special advisers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have no formal role in answering parliamentary questions, which are drafted by officials and signed by Ministers. I take advice from my special advisers on a range of issues, which includes the answers to parliamentary questions.
Sudan
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent peace treaty in the east of Sudan. [80271]
Mr. McCartney: Preliminary talks between the Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front began in Asmara on 13 June, under Eritrean mediation. A UK representative was present. A Declaration of Principles and an agreement to cease violence was issued on 19 June. Formal talks are scheduled to start in mid-July. We support the parties in this effort and press them to negotiate in good faith in order to reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Army has successfully and peacefully completed its withdrawal from Hamishkoreib. This is a positive and important step. We continue to urge all sides to exercise restraint and not to take action that may inflame the situation.
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