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16 Jan 2007 : Column 985W—continued
Drugs Trade: Latin America
16. Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with governments of Latin American countries on drug trafficking. [115416]
Dr. Howells: The UK has regular contact with Latin American partners on drugs issues.
Last October, I visited Colombia where I had meetings with the Vice President, and the Foreign and Defence Ministers. On the same trip, I also met with the Minister of Interior and the Head of the National Drugs Agency in Venezuela. These discussions focused on combating the flow of cocaine, and emphasised the importance we place on working with regional partners to tackle the illegal drugs trade. In November I met Vice President Santos at the Colombian Government’s Shared Responsibility event in London. I also met with the Head of the Peruvian anti-drugs agency in November.
Horn of Africa
17. Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the situation in the Horn of Africa. [115417]
Margaret Beckett: Tension in the Horn of Africa stems from the situation in Somalia. After years of lawlessness and little effective government, a historic opportunity now exists for a sustainable solution to Somalia’s difficulties. We fully support Somalia’s Transitional Federal government and Institutions in their efforts to find a lasting and inclusive political settlement, and to become an effective governing authority. The Transitional Federal Charter sets out a roadmap for a constitutional process and eventual transition to a democratically elected government. This is the framework within which the Transitional government should pursue a political process in Mogadishu. We are working with the Transitional government and Institutions, and our international partners, to help stabilise Somalia through the early deployment of a regional security force, restore governance through an inclusive political process, and rebuild Somalia through increased international assistance.
Somalia
18. Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the situation in Somalia. [115418]
Margaret Beckett: After years of lawlessness and little effective government, a historic opportunity now exists for a sustainable solution to Somalia’s difficulties. We fully support Somalia’s Transitional Federal government and Institutions in their efforts to find a lasting and inclusive political settlement, and to become an effective governing authority. The Transitional Federal Charter sets out a roadmap for a constitutional process and eventual transition to a democratically elected government. This is the framework within which the Transitional government should pursue a political process in Mogadishu. We are working with the Transitional government and Institutions, and our international partners, to help stabilise Somalia through the early deployment of a regional security force, restore governance through an inclusive political process, and rebuild Somalia through increased international assistance.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects the Intergovernmental Authority on Development regional peace keeping force to Somalia to be deployed; and which countries are expected to provide the peacekeepers initially. [114200]
Mr. McCartney: The African Union (AU) is playing a pro-active role in considering how to take forward the question of a possible international mission in Somalia. Uganda has already offered to contribute 1,000 to 1,500 personnel and we understand the AU is consulting other AU members who might contribute personnel. The Peace and Security council of the AU agreed on 8 January to reconvene shortly to finalise plans for the deployment of an international mission to Somalia working closely with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the Transitional Federal government and other stakeholders. We are awaiting further details of their plans.
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she has received a report of the outcome of the meeting of the Somalia International Contact Group in Nairobi. [114206]
Mr. McCartney: The UK is a member of the Somalia International Contact Group (ICG) and participated in the meeting in Nairobi. The group issued a communiqué, the main points of which included:
that this was a historic opportunity for the Somali people to reach sustainable political solutions for Somalia, based on the Transitional Federal Charter;
there was an urgent need to facilitate the deployment of a stabilisation force in Somalia based on UN Security Council Resolution 1725. It welcomed Uganda’s offer to be part of this force;
full support for the Transitional Federal Institutions/government in their efforts to lead an inclusive and representative political process in Somalia, as envisaged in the Transitional Charter, and to become an effective governing authority; and
reaffirming the ICG’s commitment to provide humanitarian assistance.
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response she has made to the United States military action in Somalia; and if she will make a statement. [115464]
Mr. McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to the response my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) on 10 January 2007, Official Report, columns 281-82.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the detention of British citizens following the recent fighting in Somalia; and what plans she has to seek to effect their return to the UK. [115585]
Mr. McCartney: We are aware of the media reports that British citizens have been detained following the recent fighting in Somalia. We are urgently seeking to corroborate those reports, including through our high commission in Nairobi and our embassy in Addis Ababa. We will consider next steps in the light of the information we receive.
Cuba
19. Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on UK relations with Cuba. [115419]
Mr. Hoon: Recent changes in the leadership in Cuba have not so far led to evidence of change in Cuban government policy.
The UK remains committed to the 1996 EU Common Position, which aims to encourage a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights in Cuba
The UK will continue to pursue constructive engagement with both the Cuban government and all other sectors of Cuban society.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
20. Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking to promote further signatures to and ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. [115420]
Dr. Howells: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most widely ratified of the core human rights instruments. The UK continues to promote further signatures, ratification and implementation of the Convention and its two Optional Protocols both bilaterally and in multilateral fora. The UK works with EU partners and the Office of the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights to increase compliance with the Convention.
The UK has signed and ratified the Optional Protocol on Children and Armed Conflict. The UK has signed the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography and is now in a position to ratify it. We are taking steps to complete ratification at the earliest opportunity.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has developed a strategy to guide our work on child rights. We will focus our work on promoting universal signature and ratification of relevant international instruments, working to eliminate violence against children and the worst forms of child labour.
The FCO has revived our Child Rights panel of experts. The panel will meet quarterly to help inform policy decisions and advise on how to implement our strategy.
The UK supports the aims of the “Call for Action” by child rights non-governmental organisations, calling for a child rights focus at the Human Rights Council.
Iraq
21. Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on the political situation in Iraq. [115421]
Dr. Howells: The political situation remains challenging, with sectarian violence threatening to undermine the Iraqi Government’s efforts to achieve security and national reconciliation.
I welcome Prime Minister Maliki’s commitment to restoring security in Baghdad, which is a vital step in improving the situation in the rest of the country. I also welcome revised US plans to support the Iraqi government, security forces and the reconstruction effort. UK continues to provide its full support.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the British Academy on the work of the British School of Archaeology in Iraq. [114350]
Dr. Howells: Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary nor I have made any representations to the British Academy on the work of the British School of Archaeology in Iraq.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received on behalf of the British School of Archaeology in Iraq; and what assessment she has made of its role. [114351]
Dr. Howells: Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary nor I have received any representations on behalf of the British School of Archaeology in Iraq (BSAI).
I value the work of the BSAI to maintain links with Iraqi institutions working to secure Iraq’s ancient sites and antiquities. The BSAI is currently devoting its resources to assisting in the rebuilding of Iraq’s heritage. The Government takes very seriously the need to respect and preserve Iraq’s cultural heritage.
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the UK Government has made to the Iraqi government in relation to its policy on the death sentence. [115156]
Dr. Howells: Since the Iraqi Interim government re-introduced the death penalty with effect from 7 August 2004, the United Kingdom, together with the European Union, has regularly raised our policy of opposition to the death penalty at the highest level, including with the Iraqi President and Prime Minister. We repeated our view on a number of occasions immediately before and after Saddam Hussein’s execution.
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the security situation in Iraq. [115504]
Dr. Howells: The nature of the security challenge is complex and varies across the country. In some areas, in particular in and around the capital, the security situation is grave, with an unacceptably high level of violence. 80 per cent. of the attacks in Iraq happen within a 30 mile radius of Baghdad. Improving security is the highest priority for both the Iraqi Government and the Coalition. Prime Minister Maliki has recognised that a large part of the solution lies in promoting national reconciliation as well as in military action. We strongly welcome his commitment in this area.
Mr. Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group report in the context of the development of British foreign policy. [115617]
Dr. Howells: As my right hon. Friends the Foreign and Defence Secretaries have made clear we welcomed the Iraq Study Group’s (ISG) report and broadly agree with its analysis of the security situation in Iraq. However the ISO’s recommendations largely reflect our own strategy for our areas of responsibility and, throughout Iraq, our fundamental objectives remain the same—to boost capacity to deliver security and basic services to the Iraqi people.
It is important to remember that this report was commissioned by and for the US government. Many of its detailed recommendations are particular to US foreign policy and/or conditions in US areas of responsibility in Iraq.
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has held discussions with (a) the Iraqi Government, (b) the United States Administration and (c) United Kingdom-registered oil companies on the new production-sharing agreements covering the Iraqi oil industry. [115917]
Dr. Howells: We are not aware of any new production-sharing agreements in Iraq, other than those that the Kurdish Regional Government has signed.
A new national Hydrocarbons Law is in the process of being drafted in Iraq, which will determine what types of oil development contracts may be available in the future.
European Constitution
22. Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. [115422]
23. Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. [115423]
Mr. Hoon: We are in discussion with all our EU partners, including the German Presidency, regarding the future of the Constitutional Treaty. At present there is no consensus. The German Presidency has been asked by EU leaders to present a report to the European Council in June on possible next steps following consultation with all EU Governments. I set out the Government's approach in my written ministerial statement of 5 December 2006, Official Report, columns 10-11WS.
Middle East
24. Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution she is making to efforts to prevent Iran and Syria from rearming Hezbollah with rockets in southern Lebanon. [115424]
Dr. Howells: The UK worked hard at the UN to bring about UN Security Council Resolution 1701. This places an embargo on the unauthorised supply of arms to Lebanon. The UK is providing 47 Land Rovers to help the Lebanese Army implement Resolution 1701, including by patrolling the Syrian border more effectively. The UK also contributes funds to UN Interim Force in Lebanon, which is helping the Lebanese create a weapons-free zone in south Lebanon.
25. Mr. Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with EU counterparts on the situation in the Middle East. [115425]
Dr. Howells: My right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with her EU counterparts to discuss the Middle East Peace Process.
Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being made to seek the assistance of Arab governments in securing an end to the attacks on Israel. [115426]
Dr. Howells: We engage closely with Arab governments to advance the middle east peace process (MEPP). We have expressed our concerns to Palestinian President Abbas about Qassam rocket fire. The launching of rockets against Israeli civilian targets and all forms of violence must stop. Violence serves only to undermine the prospects for peace in the region.
My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, as well as myself, have recently made trips to the region to discuss the MEPP with Arab governments.
Azerbaijan
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the Government of Azerbaijan on the imprisonment of Farhad Aliyev, with particular reference to his ability to receive proper medical care; and if she will make a statement. [115181]
Mr. Hoon: We have discussed with the Azerbaijani authorities on a number of occasions the investigations involving Farhad Aliyev and others. We are concerned to hear of the continuing health problems experienced by Farhad Aliyev.
We remind the authorities of the importance of handling these investigations and any subsequent trials transparently, promptly and fully in accordance with the law and with Azerbaijan’s international commitments. We also remind the authorities of the need to ensure that the defendants’ right of access to appropriate medical care is respected.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of (a) the independence of the judiciary and (b) the ability of the political opposition to operate freely in Azerbaijan; and if she will make a statement. [115182]
Mr. Hoon: International organisations including the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and Council of Europe have identified a number of shortcomings in the judicial system in Azerbaijan. The Ministry of Justice in Azerbaijan is taking important steps to improve the training of judges, but we assess that there is still much room for improvement in the conduct of the legal system.
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