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14 May 2007 : Column 498W—continued
Marios Matsakis MEP
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the arrest and detention of Marios Matsakis MEP in Akrotiri Sovereign base area, Cyprus; and if she will make a statement. [136661]
Mr. Hoon: Having already failed to attend the Sovereign base area court following two previous summonses relating to alleged acts of criminal damage on property belonging to the Ministry of Defence in the Sovereign base areas, warrants were issued for the arrest of Dr. Matsakis. He was therefore arrested at the direction of the Court on 12 April, while making a visit to the Sovereign base areas. Although he was offered the opportunity of making a modest bail payment pending court appearance, Dr. Matsakis refused and declined an offer by a colleague to pay on his behalf. He was therefore remanded in police custody. Following concern for his health Dr. Matsakis was transferred to medical facilities in the Republic of Cyprus. This resulted in his leaving the jurisdiction of the Sovereign base areas and therefore his release from custody.
Measures for Civil Society Programme
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK is taking under the Measures for Civil Society programme (EU budget code 15 49 04 12); and if she will make a statement. [130638]
Mr. Hoon: No payment or commitment appropriations were entered under budget line 15 49 04 12 for the 2007 European Community Budget. We are not aware of any plans for the UK to take steps under this programme.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2007, Official Report, column 919W to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz), on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which states have blocked progress on the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. [136395]
Dr. Howells: No member state at the Conference on Disarmament (CD) objects in principle to a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT). However, some nations have been unwilling to begin negotiations on such a treaty without further progress on their own priorities, even where these are issues that do not command consensus at the CD. In particular, China has previously stated that they are not willing to begin negotiations on an FMCT until their concerns over the prevention of an arms race in space are sufficiently addressed. In March this year the current six presidencies of the CD tabled a proposal designed to address the concerns of all member states and allow negotiations on an FMCT to commence without further delay. The UK continues to support the proposal and will work hard to secure consensus for its adoption when this year’s second session of the conference begins on 14 May.
Occupied Territories: Security
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether US Security Co-ordinator General Dayton has produced a plan for security sector transformation within the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the reliable opening of the Kami crossing; and if she will place a copy of the plan in the Library of the House once it is available. [134327]
Margaret Beckett: US Security Co-ordinator General Dayton has produced a draft plan for Palestinian Security Sector Transformation. He is currently working with international partners and the Palestinians to develop this further and provide costings. This will provide further training, provision of non-lethal equipment to the presidential guard and details on proposals for the Kami crossing point between Gaza and Israel.
General Dayton’s plan will be a private, sensitive document. We do not plan to place a copy in the Library of the House. However, we will keep the House informed of progress regarding Security Sector Transformation.
During their meeting on 15 April, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian President Abbas discussed future security plans. Prime Minister Olmert promised to keep the Kami crossing open until 23.00 and that trucks would not be delayed longer than 24 hours at the crossing. The Israel Defence Force also said that they had removed 44 roadblocks in the West Bank and intended to remove a further 17.
Sequestration of Assets
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the extent to which the persons, entities and organisations identified in European Council decision 2007/242/EC of 23 April 2007 hold assets in the European Union which will be affected by the Council decision. [134857]
Margaret Beckett: The UK has not made an assessment of the extent to which the persons, entities and organisations identified in European Council decision 2007/242/EC of 23 April hold assets in the European Union, and is not aware of any assessments made by third parties. The legal instruments for implementing the assets freeze in the UK are the Iran (Financial Sanctions) Order 2007 and EC Regulation 423/2007. The Bank of England issued a notice to financial institutions on 24 April about the financial sanctions against Iran, following the adoption of EC Regulation 423/2007 and Council Decision 2007/242/EC.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK advocated the inclusion of additional persons, entities and organisations to the list of those subject to a freezing of economic resources agreed by the European Council on 23 April 2007; and whether she is satisfied by the action taken by the EU to date. [134858]
Margaret Beckett: The proceedings of EU working groups and committees are confidential under EU Rules of Procedure and the European Community Treaty.
We are satisfied that the EU has implemented robustly the measures imposed under UN Security Council Resolutions 1737 and 1747.
There will be opportunities to propose further individuals and entities to whom the measures adopted by the EU will apply through EU working group mechanisms at any time.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK is advocating that the European Union restrictive measures against Iran adopted under European Council decision 2007/242/EC of 23 April 2007 be strengthened; and if she will make a statement. [134859]
Margaret Beckett: The European Union has implemented robustly the measures imposed under UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) 1737 and 1747. The United Kingdom will not seek further measures before assessing Iran’s response to UNSCR 1747.
Serbia: Council of Europe
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will suspend the UK’s financial contribution to the Council of Europe pending review of the appropriateness of Serbia taking the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. [136732]
Mr. Hoon: The Government do not believe it would be in the United Kingdom’s interest to suspend its financial contribution to the Council of Europe. To do so would be in breach of our obligations under Article 39 of the Statute. Failure to fulfil our financial obligations could result in the suspension of the UK’s right of representation on the Committee of Ministers and Parliamentary Assembly. A suspension in contributions would also damage the vital work of the Council of Europe in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Europe.
Serbia still has much work to do to meet its Council of Europe accession commitments, as well as other international obligations, in particular full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). However, we hope that their Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers will provide encouragement for Serbia to demonstrate its commitment to Council of Europe core objectives of human rights, democracy and the rule of law as well as other international obligations, in particular full co-operation with the ICTY.
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe objecting to the rotation of the Presidency to Serbia in view of Serbian war criminals still at large. [136733]
Mr. Hoon: The United Kingdom is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and regularly makes clear to countries of the region their obligation to co-operate fully with the Tribunal, as set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1534. In February I delivered this message in Belgrade to the President and Prime Minister of Serbia.
Serbia’s performance as Chair will be scrutinised by both a domestic and international audience. It is in Serbia’s interests to fulfil its obligations as Chair to the highest standards. We hope that their Chairmanship will provide encouragement for Serbia to demonstrate its commitment to Council of Europe core objectives of human rights, democracy and the rule of law as well as other international obligations, in particular full co-operation with the ICTY.
The Parliamentary Assembly and Committee of Ministers will continue to monitor Serbia’s commitment to Council of Europe values and treaty obligations. Monitoring will continue throughout their Chairmanship and will include co-operation with the ICTY.
Sheikh Hasina
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations her Department received from the Bangladeshi government on the status of Sheikh Hasina. [135955]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the status of Sheikh Hasina with the Foreign Adviser to the Bangladesh caretaker government, Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, on 19 April. The caretaker government has since lifted the restrictions on Sheikh Hasina’s return to Bangladesh.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions officials in her Department have had with Sheikh Hasina regarding the refusal of her Government to allow her return to Bangladesh. [135963]
Dr. Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has had no contact with Sheikh Hasina regarding the earlier decision of the Caretaker Government to prevent her from returning to Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina has not requested any such contact. On 19 April, the Caretaker Government lifted all restrictions on her return to Bangladesh.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when her Department was notified that Sheikh Hasina would not be allowed to return to Bangladesh on Sunday 22 April. [135964]
Dr. Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office learned on 18 April that the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh had instructed foreign civil aviation authorities and airlines that Sheikh Hasina would not be allowed to return to Bangladesh. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the position of Sheikh Hasina during a call by Dr. Iftekhar Chowdhury, the Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser, on 19 April.
Somalia
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the likelihood of the proposed national reconciliation conference in Somalia taking place; and what support the UK is giving to the process. [134001]
Margaret Beckett: We welcomed the announcement by President Yusuf at the African Union summit on 29 January of his intention to convene a National Reconciliation Congress (NRC). However, it is crucial that the current fighting in Mogadishu ends, in order to allow the NRC to convene. With our international partners, we continue to press for an end to the violence, most recently at the International Contact Group on 3 April and at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 23 April.
The UK, other international donors and UN agencies are supporting the Somali National Governance and Reconciliation Committee, which is charged with organising the Congress, in developing its plan for this. With our partners, the UK is currently providing technical expertise and advisory assistance.
We are ready to consider funding for the NRC once a fully costed final plan is finalised, which can achieve lasting peace for Somalia.
Sudan: EC Action
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the UK is advocating the adoption of EU measures against the Government of Sudan; and if she will make a statement. [132781]
Margaret Beckett: Following my lobbying, the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council agreed strong conclusions on Sudan on 23 April. In particular, we are building on this support in pushing for further action from the UN Security Council.
Sudan: Religious Freedom
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the recent attack on Christian missionaries in the Nuba Mountains, Sudan. [136768]
Mr. McCartney: Bishop Andudu, the head of the Episcopal church in the Diocese of Kadugli and Nuba Mountains, and the Evangelical church in Khartoum told our embassy in Khartoum that four missionaries attached to the Evangelical church in Khartoum had been killed in an ambush of a lorry near Kadugli on 27 or 28 April, with five other people injured. We do not currently know the identity of the assailants, or whether the missionaries were the target or unintended victims of the attack.
The Government remain strongly committed to the protection of the human rights of all Sudan’s citizens. We call on the Sudanese Government to ensure that all religions can be practised without fear of harassment or intimidation. We take seriously any infringement of religious freedom and remain in contact with church leaders. In addition, the Government are a strong supporter of the North/South Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Under this a range of peace building commissions are being established including a national Human Rights Commission and the Commission for the Protection of non-Muslim Rights in the national capital.
Sudan: Sanctions
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the targeted sanctions against the four individuals designated in UN Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005) on (a) the activities of those individuals and (b) the security situation in Darfur. [132782]
Margaret Beckett: We assess that sanctions are having an impact on the Government of Sudan as a whole. On 9 April, President Bashir finally agreed to the Heavy Support Package, which is one of the stepping stones leading to the deployment of the full African Union/UN peacekeeping package. But this is only a first step and we have made clear to the Government of Sudan and the rebels that they will be judged on actions, not just words.
Travel Restrictions
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what diplomatic processes are in place to inform senior foreign political figures that their return to their home countries has been prohibited by their Government. [135962]
Dr. Howells: This is a matter for the state and the individual concerned. The approach of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will depend on the particular circumstances of each case.
Uganda: Democratic Republic of Congo
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on Ugandan support for the Mouvement de liberation du Congo; and if she will make a statement. [136690]
Mr. McCartney: We have not received any credible reports or evidence of current Ugandan support for the Mouvement de Liberation du Congo.
We have regular high-level discussions with the Government of Uganda and continue to impress upon them the need to play a constructive role in regional political processes and to respect the Democratic Republic of Congo’s territorial integrity.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 March 2007, Official Report, column 1779W, on Zimbabwe, whether she has received representations from her European counterparts on the proposal to add perpetrators of the violence against opposition figures in Zimbabwe to the list of those subject to an EU visa ban and assets freeze. [134003]
Margaret Beckett: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 10 May 2007, Official Report, column 403W, which confirms the addition of two further names to EU visa ban and assets freeze list.
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