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16 Apr 2007 : Column 43W—continued
Official celebrations in Her Majesty The Queen’s realms and in the UK’s Overseas Territories come under the auspices of the respective governor-general/governor of those countries and territories.
It was agreed (in 2003) with Buckingham Palace that QBPs need not take place every year. The frequency is at the discretion of the Head of Post, but a full reception should be held at least once during their tenure. In other years, smaller events such as a lunch may be held, according to local custom, though the birthday should be marked in some fashion.
Russia: Latvia
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the recent Russia-Latvia treaty signed to formalise their mutual border. [131262]
Mr. Hoon: We welcomed the news that Latvia and Russia signed a border treaty on 27 March. We fully aligned ourselves with the EU presidency declaration of 28 March, in which the EU welcomed its signature and looked forward to the swift ratification of the treaty.
Somalia
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2007, Official Report, column 2017W, on Somalia, what discussions she has had with her (a) Ethiopian and (b) other African Union counterparts on the recent violence in Somalia; whether she has changed her assessment of the status of the Union of Islamic Courts following these discussions; and if she will make a statement. [130421]
Mr. Hoon: We are in close contact with both the African Union (AU) and the Ethiopian Government about the recent fighting in Somalia, which we utterly condemn. The Government calls on all parties in Somalia to reject violence and commit to peaceful dialogue. We are working with the AU and other members of the international community to try to facilitate the swift and effective deployment of the AU stabilisation mission to Somalia in order to create the conditions for Ethiopia to withdraw, whilst avoiding a security vacuum.
The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) ceased to exist as an organisation after its collapse in December 2006. The Government have therefore not changed their assessment of the UIC, as given in my answer to the hon. Member on 7 March 2007, Official Report, column 2017W.
Somalia: Armed Conflict
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the recent violence in Somalia; what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the violence on the further deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia; and if she will make a statement. [130257]
Margaret Beckett: The recent violence in Mogadishu represents a very real threat to the prospects for stability in Somalia. We condemn the attacks against African Union (AU) and other forces and call on those responsible to desist, and to work alongside the transitional federal institutions and the AU in helping to restore governance to Somalia. We continue to believe that an AU stabilisation force is the most effective way of assisting Somalia to secure the stability and peace its people so badly want.
Somalia: Ethiopia
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the humanitarian impact of the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia; what discussions she has had with her (a) United States and (b) Kenyan counterparts on the treatment of Somalian refugees; and if she will make a statement. [130423]
Mr. Hoon: We are very concerned about humanitarian conditions throughout Somalia. Although food security appears to have improved compared to 2006, the current high risk of conflict may generate widespread additional humanitarian needs. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, up to 100,000 more people may have been displaced since early February.
According to UN agencies, humanitarian conditions in the refugee camps are difficult, with ongoing high levels of child malnutrition. The Kenyan authorities have gone to great lengths in offering shelter to the 174,000 Somalis currently believed to be in camps, and they have legitimate security concerns about the influx of large numbers of Somalis. However, we remain concerned that, since the beginning of the year, they have denied entry to the camps to some Somalis genuinely seeking to flee from conflict. Our high commissioner in Nairobi raised the issue of the border closure with the Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs in early January. And the UK has supported a similar approach by the EU presidency. The UK participated in a US-hosted senior level donor round table in late January about the humanitarian impact of the closure of the border with Somalia and we have ongoing discussions with the USAID Office for Disaster Assistance and the USAID Office of Food for Peace about remedial action.
The UK was the second largest bilateral humanitarian donor to Somalia in 2006 and committed £16 million towards emergency relief activities through the UN and non-governmental organisation partners.
Somalia: Official Visits
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2007, Official Report, column 2017W, on Somalia: official visits, when she expects Ethiopian troops to complete their withdrawal from Somalia; and if she will make a statement. [130258]
Mr. Hoon: We understand Ethiopia has been gradually withdrawing its forces over the past weeks.
At the same time, we recognise that until an effective and appropriate alternative is in place a complete Ethiopian withdrawal could risk a dangerous security vacuum. For this reason, we strongly support the deployment of the Africa Union stabilisation force (AMISOM). The UK-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 1744, unanimously adopted, explicitly authorises (the establishment of AMISOM and we have offered logistical, planning and financial support to the force to help it deploy as soon as possible. On UK contributions to AMISOM, I refer the hon.
Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe (Mr. Hoon), today (UIN 130261).
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2007, Official Report, column 2017W, on Somalia: official visits, what recent discussions she has had with her (a) United States and (b) EU counterparts on the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM); what commitments have been made to support AMISOM as a result of these discussions; and if she will make a statement. [130259]
Margaret Beckett: My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, and officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, have been in frequent contact with US and EU colleagues, both bilaterally and in international fora, including the UN and the International Contact Group for Somalia, regarding the African Union’s (AU) stabilisation mission to Somalia (AMISOM). I have also discussed it with my EU colleagues at recent EU Foreign Ministers’ meetings. We urge a prompt, focused and co-ordinated international response to help Somalis seize this historic opportunity for stability, which is what Somalia needs above all.
AMISOM is a key element in bringing stability to Somalia. For this reason, the UK sponsored United Nations Security Council Resolution 1744, adopted unanimously on 20 February. The Resolution explicitly authorises the deployment of AMISOM, as well as recognising the need for a reconciliation and a political process in Somalia, and permitting support to the Transitional Federal Government and Institutions to develop their own security sector. We commend the AU for taking on this mission and are grateful to those countries that have so far offered to contribute personnel to AMISOM.
On UK contributions to AMISOM, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe, today (UIN 130261).
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2007, Official Report, column 2017W, on Somalia: official visits, which African Union countries have pledged troop contributions to the African Union Mission in Somalia; how many troops they have pledged; when she expects those contributing to deploy those troops; and if she will make a statement. [130260]
Margaret Beckett: Uganda has pledged nearly 1,700 troops to Somalia as part of the African Union (AU) stabilisation force (AMISOM), most of which we believe have now deployed. We understand that Ghana, Burundi, Nigeria and Malawi have also pledged troops to AMISOM, which would bring the total numbers to around 4,000, although the timeframe for these deployments remains unclear.
The UK has made clear its strong support for AMISOM and believes that a prompt and effective AMISOM deployment is vital for bringing long-term stability to Somalia. For this reason, we are discussing
with several potential troop contributing countries what support we might best provide them. We have also offered direct support to the AU. On UK contributions to AMISOM, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Europe today (UIN 130261).
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to her Answer of 7 March 2007, Of ficial Report, column 2017W, on Somalia: official visits, what financial and logistical support the British Government are contributing to the African Union Mission in Somalia; and if she will make a statement. [130261]
Mr. Hoon: The Government believe it is vital that a successful African Union (AU) Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) deployment ensures lasting stability in Somalia. The UK has offered planning, and logistical support for a Somalia planning cell within the AU’s Peace and Security Operations Division in Addis Ababa. The UK has also offered planning, logistical and financial assistances direct to troop contributing countries.
We strongly support the early disbursement of the EU’s pledge of €15 million to AMISOM.
Somalia: Terrorism
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent of the presence of al-Qaeda in Somalia; and if she will make a statement. [130422]
Mr. Hoon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, North (Jeremy Corbyn) on 10 January 2007, Official Report, columns 281-82.
Al-Qaeda seeks to exploit ungoverned space to advance its terrorist agenda. Therefore, we are working with the international community to re-build the Somali State, through the establishment of Transitional Federal Institutions, in order to bring peace and stability to the country. This will make it more difficult for al-Qaeda to operate in Somalia.
In the meantime, we continue to work with the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, and our international allies, in tackling the threat posed by al-Qaeda from Somalia.
Sri Lanka: Human Rights
Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to raise with the Government of Sri Lanka the disappearance of Pastor Victor Yogarajan and three others in Negombo on 2 March. [131141]
Dr. Howells:
We have made no specific representations to the Sri Lankan Government about the case of the disappearance of Pastor Victor Yogarajan and others in Negombo on 2 March. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke with her counterpart the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister in March
about the situation faced by the civilian population as a result of the escalated conflict and raised our concerns about human rights.
Sri Lanka: Politics and Government
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the political situation in Sri Lanka. [130515]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 29 March 2007]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answers that I and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Keith Vaz) on 20 March 2007, Official Report, columns 828-29W and 14 March 2007, Official Report, column 283 respectively. I restate that the UK urges both sides to the conflict to pursue a peaceful solution and to do more to protect the civilian population.
Sudan: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress has been made in the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement. [127162]
Margaret Beckett: Lack of buy-in from a broad range of rebel groups means that there has only been limited progress with the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), particularly on the wealth sharing and security provisions. But a few of the power-sharing provisions of the DPA have been implemented. Minni Minawi was appointed Special Assistant to the President, and nominations have been made to some positions on the Transitional Darfuri Regional Authority and other bodies, but this remains insufficient.
We have been funding work to help the African Union (AU) explain the benefits of the DPA to the people of Darfur. And we are funding an expert to support the AU in preparing the Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation.
A renewed political process, which brings in as broad a range of the Darfur population as possible, is needed.
At the UN high level meeting in Addis Ababa last November, the AU and UN committed to convening a meeting between the signatories (Government of Sudan and Minni Minawi's group) and non-signatories to the DPA. The UN and AU envoys for the political process (Jan Eliasson and Salim Ahmed Salim) visited Sudan together from 23 to 28 March.
We are very concerned at the slow pace of progress on the political track and are in touch with the UN and AU at all levels to urge faster movement.
Syrian Arab Republic: Kamal al-Labwani
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2007, Official Report, column 1202W, on the Syrian Arab Republic: Kamal al-Labwani, what steps UK officials in Damascus are taking to monitor the ongoing detention of Dr Kamal al-Labwani. [131021]
Mr. Hoon: UK officials, together with their EU colleagues, attend the court cases of Dr. Kamal al-Labwani wherever possible. They are also in regular contact with Dr. al-Labwani’s lawyers and members of his family. Officials from our embassy in Damascus and EU colleagues attended Dr. al-Labwani’s latest court appearance on 10 April, at which the judge postponed the trial to 10 May. Dr. al-Labwani was allowed to greet family, friends and diplomats. With EU partners We continue to make our concerns known to the Syrian authorities.
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2007, Official Report, column 1202W, on the Syrian Arab Republic: Kamal al-Labwani, what her most recent assessment is of the conditions in which Dr. Kamal al-Labwani is being held; and if she will make a statement. [131332]
Mr. Hoon: Since his last court appearance, Dr. Kamal al-Labwani has been held in solitary confinement at Adra criminal prison. He was released from solitary confinement a few days before his court appearance on 10 April. At this appearance the judge postponed the trial to 10 May. Dr. al-Labwani was also allowed to greet family, friends and diplomats. Officials from our embassy in Damascus and EU colleagues attended the trial on 10 April and will continue to follow the progress of the case closely. With EU partners we continue to make our concerns known to the Syrian authorities about human rights in Syria.
Turkey: EC Enlargement
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her Turkish counterpart on the steps Turkey is taking to comply with EU rules to allow it to progress with membership of the EU. [131263]
Mr. Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Turkey on 26-27 March and had a productive meeting with Foreign Minister Gul, which included discussion of Turkey's EU accession process. The UK continues to encourage Turkey to take the steps necessary to meet the requirements of the acquis. Progress is being made with the EU and Turkey agreeing on 29 March formally to open negotiations on enterprise and industrial policy.
USA: Prince Charles
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what costs of visits to the US by the Prince of Wales were met from the public purse over the last 12 months, broken down by (a) visit, (b) travel, (c) accommodation, (d) visit participant, (e) gifts and (f) other expenses; what the purpose of each such visit was; where the proposal for each such visit originated; what (i) proportion of and (ii) events within each such visit were organised by, or on behalf of, the Prince's charities or foundations; and if she will make a statement. [129558]
Margaret Beckett:
The visit to the United States by his Royal Highness (HRH) the Prince of Wales and
Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall from 26-29 January is the only visit over the last 12 months where costs were met from public funds. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as the accounts for the visit have been finalised, and will place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
The purpose of the visit was to reinforce our relationship with the United States, with a particular focus on youth development, urban regeneration and the environment in support of the Government's best practice agenda. The visit was approved by the Royal Visits Committee as part of our continuing engagement with the United States at the highest level. There were no publicly-funded events organised on behalf of HRH the Prince of Wales' charities or foundations.
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