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10 July 2006 : Column 1524W—continued
Lord's Resistance Army
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the governments of (a) Uganda, (b) Sudan and (c) the Democratic Republic of Congo have asked for British Government support in serving International Criminal Court warrants on the leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army. [83292]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 6 July 2006]: The Government have received no such requests for assistance.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him today (UIN 82452) in which I noted that responsibility to effect the arrest warrants lies in the first instance with the states on whose territory the five Liberation Resistance Army commanders are believed to be, in this case Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The UK is a strong supporter, in principle and in practice, of the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. We will continue to maintain political pressure on all parties to provide full co-operation to the ICC. We have called on all those involved to facilitate the arrest of the individuals subject to ICC warrants.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the steps taken by the International Criminal Court to try to arrest the leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army. [82452]
Mr. McCartney [holding answer 5 July 2006]: 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 effect the arrest warrants lies in the first instance with the states on whose territory the five LRA commanders are believed to be, in this case Uganda, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The UK is a strong supporter of the work of the ICC and its efforts to bring to justice the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. We will continue to maintain political pressure on all parties to provide full co-operation to the ICC. We have called on all those involved to facilitate the arrest of the individuals subject to ICC warrants.
Whilst we are disappointed that the arrest warrants have not yet been effected, we do not underestimate the difficulties in doing so. On 23 January, the UN force in DRC conducted an operation in Garamba National Park in north-eastern DRC aimed at tackling the LRA contingent based there. This operation was unsuccessful and tragically eight Guatemalan peace-keepers lost their lives in that endeavour.
The ICC remains actively supportive of efforts to make the arrests. On 28 June the Chief Prosecutor, Ocampo, made a statement guaranteeing the indictees safe passage to The Hague and due process in the court.
Majority Voting
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the EU Commission’s proposal to introduce majority voting on criminal justice and police co-operation contained in the paper ‘Implementing The Hague Programme: the way forward’, would need to be ratified in the UK Parliament. [82740]
Mr. Hoon: We are giving careful consideration to the proposals contained in the Commission Communication on ‘Implementing The Hague Programme: the way forward’ and will submit an Explanatory Memorandum to Parliament in due course.
Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union—the “passerelle”—allows for areas governed by Title VI (Third Pillar) to be transferred to Title IV (First Pillar) by unanimous Council decision. This means that the UK has a veto on any change in the decision-making procedure in this area.
Should all member states, including the UK, agree to the change, Article 42 provides that the decision would be recommended to member states for adoption
“in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements”.
Nepal
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the Maoist rebels’ commitment to a ceasefire in Nepal. [82656]
Dr. Howells: The Maoists announced a three month ceasefire in April 2006, which the Government of Nepal subsequently reciprocated. Following peace talks with the Government, the Maoists subsequently agreed a code of conduct to govern the ceasefire and terms of reference for a ceasefire monitoring committee. And during talks on 16 June 2006 Prime Minister Koirala and Maoist Leader Prachanda agreed to request United Nations assistance in arms management.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported some violations of the code of conduct by the Maoists. While we welcome the commitment of both sides to peace negotiations and a ceasefire, we believe a third party will need to monitor implementation and to support the work of the Nepalese ceasefire monitoring committee.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are willing to take to support the ceasefire between Maoist rebels and the Government in Nepal. [82657]
Dr. Howells: A permanent and verifiable ceasefire between the Maoists and Nepalese army is necessary to underpin a comprehensive peace process. The UK is ready to assist the Government of Nepal in supporting a peace process and ceasefire. However, it is for the Government of Nepal first to request help from the UN or any other third party to facilitate this process.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received on maintaining a peaceful transition in Nepal to a functioning democracy; and if she will make a statement. [82659]
Dr. Howells: On 20 June my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, met the Nepalese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, K.P. Sharma Oli, at the Human Rights Council in Geneva. They discussed the challenges ahead following the democratic transition in Nepal.
Foreign Minister Oli requested UK financial and technical assistance to support speedy reconstruction efforts and transition to a stable multi-party democracy. He also requested UK assistance in support of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration efforts. We are pursuing these requests in consultation with the Government of Nepal and our international partners.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are willing to take to ensure Maoist rebels in Nepal give up violence before they enter a transitional Government. [82660]
Dr. Howells: The only way for the Maoists to gain acceptance as a legitimate political actor is for them to take concrete steps towards a permanent end to the use of violence for political ends. We therefore support the Government of Nepal’s position that an effective arms management arrangement is a precondition for the formation of an interim Government. We will also urge strongly that, in advance of elections to a Constituent Assembly, the Maoists must make a credible commitment to put their arms verifiably beyond use.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are (a) taking and (b) willing to take to ensure that weapons are confiscated from Maoist rebels in Nepal, in accordance with the United Nations agreement. [82661]
Dr. Howells: The Maoists and the governing Seven Party Alliance agreed on 16 June to request United Nations help in the monitoring and management of arms. We understand a formal request to the United Nations has now been made. The United Kingdom stands ready to assist in any future arms management arrangement if so requested by the United Nations.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government plan towards ensuring that parliamentary elections in Nepal are (a) free and fair and (b) subject to international observation. [82662]
Dr. Howells: For parliamentary elections in Nepal to be credible, they would need to take place in the context of an overall peace process and within a political and security climate which attracts all parties to put up candidates for free and fair polls. It will therefore be necessary for both the Nepalese army and the Maoists to be subject to satisfactory arms management during the interim period.
We will continue to offer our support to the Government of Nepal for the challenges ahead and will consider volunteering election monitors as part of any internationally co-ordinated effort under the United Nations, or through the European Union.
Non-proliferation Programmes
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funds are spent by the EU on non-proliferation programmes; and if she will make a statement. [80353]
Margaret Beckett: Under the ‘Common Foreign and Security Policy’ budget strand for ‘Non Proliferation and Disarmament’ the EU spent €9.1 million on non-proliferation projects in 2005. €3 million has been committed for spend in the 2006 budget.
Under the ‘crisis management and global threats to security’ budget strand €3 million was spent in 2005 and €3.0 million has been committed for 2006 for ‘actions in the area of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction’.
The Commission has, in fact, spent significantly more in the same period on non-proliferation. However, final figures are as yet unavailable as sums on other schedules have not yet been confirmed. My officials will write to the right hon. Member, providing further details, when those become available.
Nuclear Fuel (Multilateral Agreement)
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposal the Government have made regarding a concept for a multilateral mechanism for reliable access to nuclear fuel, as put forward to the International Atomic Energy Agency; and if she will make a statement. [80347]
Margaret Beckett: The UK co-sponsored a concept paper presented at the last International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors' meeting, 12 to 15 June 2006, that outlined a mechanism to provide reliable access to nuclear fuel. Although the exact details are restricted to Governments represented on the IAEA Board of Governors, the paper sets out a framework for a multi-tiered set of measures to establish basic assurances involving supplier and recipient states, with commercial back-up arrangements, and regarding reserves of enriched uranium. The paper will be the subject of further discussion during a special event to be held in the margins of the IAEA General Conference in September. Details of this special event can be found at the following website: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/Announcements. asp?ConflD=147.
Nuclear Missiles
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the relationship between North Korea and Iran, with regard to (a) ballistic missile sharing technology, (b) the Taep'o-dong two missile programme and (c) the Shahab-5/Kosar and Shahab-six missile programme. [83135]
Dr. Howells: The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) has a history of exporting ballistic missiles, ballistic missile components and related technology to Iran. This collaboration is disturbing and further reinforces international concerns about the real intentions of Iran’s nuclear programme.
The longest range ballistic missile that Iran has in service is the Shahab-3. There are persistent, credible, media reports that Iran is seeking to acquire longer range ballistic missiles with help from the DPRK, but Iran has not confirmed this.
Palestine
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she is making to the Palestinian Authority to persuade them to secure the disarmament of unofficial Palestinian militia groups; and on what occasions the last representations were made. [82397]
Dr. Howells: We continue to call for the disarmament of Palestinian militia groups. Phase I of the Roadmap states that the Palestinians must declare an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism and undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt, and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks. We continue to work with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to improve security in the West Bank and Gaza.
We will continue to make representations on this issue.
Passerelle Clauses
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the use to date of passerelle clauses to incorporate EU legislation into UK law. [81900]
Mr. Hoon: A passerelle provision is one which allows for existing voting rules to be changed without treaty amendment. There are four passerelle provisions in the EU treaties. They are article 42 in the treaty on European Union (on police and judicial co-operation) and articles 67(2) (immigration and asylum), 137(2) (social policy matters) and 175(2) (environmental policy matters) in the European Community treaty. Only the passerelle provision in article 67(2) has been activated. The UK opted into Council Decision 2004/927 which changed certain areas in Title IV, European Community treaty, from unanimity to co-decision and Qualified Majority Voting. Any measure adopted in these areas only applies to the UK if the UK opts into it under its opt-in protocol, the protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the treaty of Amsterdam.
Sri Lanka
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom plans to take action in the United Nations in relation to the recent terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. [83205]
Mr. McCartney: There is as yet no agreement in the UN Security Council that the situation in Sri Lanka represents a threat to international peace and security. We are focusing our efforts on the peace process facilitated by the Government of Norway. We also actively contribute to the EU's input in its role as one of the Tokyo co-chairs. Our view is that dialogue is the only way to achieve a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Sri Lanka. All sides need to exercise restraint and to act in a constructive way. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, (Dr. Howells), made a statement emphasising this on 15 June. This is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website at:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029391638&a=KArticle&aid=1150379181467.
Sudan
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in restricting the flow of (a) arms and ammunition and (b) equipment to (i) the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, (ii) the Justice and Equality Movement in Sudan and (iii) the Janjaweed militia; and if she will make a statement. [79952]
Margaret Beckett: There is a UN arms embargo for Darfur and an EU Arms embargo for the whole of Sudan. The UK stringently follows both of these. But there is evidence, including in the recent report prepared by the UN Panel of Experts for Sudan, that the UN arms embargo is being breached by all sides. We take these reports seriously and are pressing for an extension of the UN arms embargo to cover the whole of Sudan.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Sudanese Government on the reported operations in Darfur of Chadian armed groups supported by Khartoum. [80033]
Margaret Beckett: We are aware that Chadian rebels and Darfur militia are continuing to mount cross-border attacks into Eastern Chad from Darfur, which has led to the displacement of 50,000 Chadians. At the same time, there are reports of Darfur rebels continuing to be supported by Chad. We are urging both Governments to restore calm to the region without the use of violence. We are also pressing the Government of Sudan to fulfil their obligations under the Darfur Peace Agreement, which includes disarming and expelling foreign fighters, including Chadian rebel groups, as soon as possible.
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