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15 May 2007 : Column 695W—continued
International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if she will make a statement on progress in the search for Bosnian Serb war-crime suspects Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic; [136521]
(2) what assessment she has made of (a) Serbia's and (b) Montenegro's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the detection and arrest of fugitive indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. [136522]
Mr. McCartney:
The chief responsibility for the detention and arrest of fugitive indictees Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic rests with the Governments of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Their progress in this regard is assessed by Carla Del Ponte, the Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
The Chief Prosecutor’s most recent assessment, delivered to the UN Security Council on 15 December 2006, was that Serbia's and Bosnia-Herzegovina's co-operation with the ICTY was not satisfactory but that there were no significant problems with Montenegro's co-operation. We are a strong supporter of the ICTY and continue to make clear to countries of the region their obligation to co-operate fully with the Tribunal as emphasised in UN Security Council Resolution 1534. In February, my right. hon. Friend the Minister for Europe delivered this message in Belgrade to the President and Prime Minister of Serbia.
Iran: Human Rights
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports she has received on (a) the situation of the Baha’i community, (b) the treatment of Bihnam Saltanat Akhdari and Shah Baygum Diqhani, (c) the treatment of Baha’i children in educational establishments, (d) the treatment of the family home of Mr. Dhabihu’llah Mahrami following his death and (e) the media treatment of the Baha’i faith in Iran; and if she will make a statement. [136691]
Dr. Howells: We remain concerned about the treatment of the Baha’i community in Iran; Iranian Baha’is continue to face discrimination and intimidation. We receive regular updates on their situation from the National Assembly of the Baha’is of the United Kingdom.
Recent reports about the murder of two elderly Baha’i women, Bihnam Saltanat Akhdari and Shah Baygum Diqhani, and the persecution of Baha’i school children are particularly worrying. We are currently trying to find out more information about this and we will take further action as appropriate. We understand that Mr. Dhabihu’llah Mahrami died in custody on 15 December 2005. Mr. Mahrami’s case had previously appeared on the EU list of cases of concern used in the EU-Iran Human Rights Dialogue. The EU raised the death of Mr. Mahrami in a meeting with the Iranian authorities on 31 January 2006 and handed over a note verbale requesting further information. We have not received specific reports about the treatment of the family home since his death, but would be prepared to consider further action as appropriate. We are also concerned about reports that Iranian newspapers, including hardline Keyhan, have been carrying out a propaganda campaign against the Baha’i community. We raised our concerns about this in an EU démarche last year.
The Government continues to press the Iranian authorities to take seriously their international human rights obligations, uphold the right to freedom of religion and belief, as described in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and address the discrimination suffered by Iranian Baha’is. We were pleased that all EU countries co-sponsored a resolution about the human rights situation in Iran at the UN General Assembly in December last year which expressed serious concern at
“the disregard of property rights, including through de facto expropriation as noted in the report of the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing”
“the escalation and increased frequency of discrimination and other human rights violations against members of the Baha’i Faith”.
Iraq
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to her oral answer of 1 May 2007, Official Report, columns 1360-1, on Iraq, where in their evidence sessions (a) John Scarlett and (b) John Williams referred to the draft dossier of 9 September 2002; and whether the draft dossier was seen by Lord Hutton. [136509]
Margaret Beckett: During oral questions on 1 May 2007, Official Report, columns 1360-1, reference was made to both the dossier on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and a draft compiled by John Williams. In oral evidence to the Hutton inquiry, John Scarlett made reference to the Williams’ draft 26 August 2003, Official Report, column 59; John Williams gave evidence on his role in the drafting of the published dossier 14 August 2003, Official Report, columns 189-90. I refer the hon. Member to the transcripts available on the Hutton inquiry website
During his inquiry, Lord Hutton had access to all documents he wished to see. There is no question of the existence of the Williams’ draft being hidden from the inquiry.
Iraq: Administration of Justice
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the Iraqi authorities on the implications for human rights of court proceedings to review sentences handed down which can impose the death penalty on an offender originally sentenced to a custodial sentence. [136686]
Mr. McCartney: All criminal defendants in Iraq can choose to appeal their sentences. A separate panel of judges will then review their case and any relevant submissions made by the defence counsel. Under Iraqi law the appeal court may conclude that a more severe sentence is appropriate and impose the death penalty in cases where this sentence is available.
The United Kingdom is firmly against the use of the death penalty in all cases and under any circumstance. Since the Iraqi Interim Government re-introduced the death penalty with effect from 7 August 2004, we have regularly pressed our policy of opposition to the death penalty in all cases and circumstances at the highest level, including with the Iraqi President and Prime Minister.
Iraq: Christianity
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations she has made to the Iraqi Government on the treatment of Christians in that country; and if she will make a statement. [136830]
Mr. McCartney: We continue to press the Government of Iraq to improve security for all Iraqis, including Christians, in our regular contacts with them. We also remain in regular touch with representatives of Iraq’s Christian communities in Iraq and the UK. We are deeply concerned about ongoing violence and the impact it is having on Iraq’s Christians and other communities.
Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations
Mr. Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment she has made of standards of policing in Basra; and if she will make a statement. [136479]
Dr. Howells: Assessments have been made of the capability of Iraqi police stations and units in Basra, using criteria agreed with the Government of Iraq and the multi-national force. Judged by these criteria, over 80 per cent. of police stations in Basra city are assessed as being largely or fully capable of carrying out their essential duties.
However, the Basra police continues to face significant challenges, particularly in the areas of serious corruption, militia infiltration and leadership. It will be vital for the Iraqis to address these problems in order to create a secure environment for the local population, and the Government are providing advice to help them in this task. The Serious Crimes Unit of the Basra police was widely associated with violent corruption, and was disbanded in December 2006. A functioning Iraqi Department of Internal Affairs, reporting directly to the central government, has been established to investigate, arrest and prosecute corrupt police officers. The UK is supporting the work of this unit directly. In addition, UK police mentors are actively engaged in building the leadership and specialist skills of the Basra police.
Iraq: Religious Freedom
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate she has made of the numbers of Christians (a) killed, (b) displaced and (c) otherwise persecuted in Iraq since the invasion of that country. [136825]
Dr. Howells: Maintaining such records is a matter for the Government of Iraq. While there are no comprehensive or reliable figures available on the number of Christians killed, displaced or persecuted since 2003, the International Organisation for Migration estimates that 7 per cent. to 8 per cent. of people internally displaced in Iraq in 2006 were Christians.
We remain deeply concerned about the impact of violence on all Iraqis. We continue to press the Government of Iraq to improve security and support international efforts to care for those affected by violence. Since the beginning of 2007 we have allocated £10 million for the humanitarian effort co-ordinated by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and International Committee of the Red Cross.
Kosovo
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects the Kosovo final status process to be concluded; and if she will make a statement. [136520]
Mr. McCartney: The UN Special Envoy submitted his final settlement proposals to the UN Security Council on 26 March. We believe the Council should quickly follow up on these proposals with a resolution that would pave the way for their implementation. We are currently negotiating with our Security Council partners in New York to that end.
My right. Hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will keep the House appraised of developments.
Members: Correspondence
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she will reply to the letter dated 1 May 2007 from the hon. Member for Billericay on the subject of the oral answer of 1 May 2007, Official Report, columns 1360-1, on Iraq. [136944]
Margaret Beckett: I replied to the hon. Member’s parliamentary question (UIN 136509) today. A reply to his letter will follow shortly.
Pakistan: Peace Negotiations
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of how the 2006 agreement between Pakistan and militants in North Waziristan is working; and if she will make a statement. [136685]
Dr. Howells: We continue to receive reports of Taliban influence in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. We share Pakistan’s concern about this. We continue to monitor the results of the peace agreement signed in September 2006 with tribal elders in North Waziristan Agency and its effect on the likely number of Taliban and pro-Taliban fighters crossing and re-crossing the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the region of North Waziristan.
Papua: Politics and Government
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Indonesian Government on special autonomy status for Papua and West Papua. [137100]
Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not made representations to the Government of Indonesia about Papua. However, our embassy in Jakarta regularly discusses Papua with the Indonesian authorities. During his visit to Indonesia in March 2006, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister expressed the UK’s support for dialogue between the central Government and representatives of the Papuan people. We believe that full implementation of existing special autonomy legislation is the best way to proceed towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous Papua province.
Russia: Diplomatic Relations
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the Russian Government’s adherence to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations; and if she will make a statement. [137231]
Mr. Hoon: The Government urge Russia, and all states, to uphold the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We have been deeply concerned about the threat to the Estonian embassy in Moscow following a dispute over the relocation of a war memorial in Tallinn. We therefore fully support the EU presidency statement of 2 May and the NATO statement of 3 May which expressed grave concern over the safety of the Estonian embassy and its staff in Russia, asked Russia to respect the Vienna Convention and urged Russia to address the dispute through dialogue.
Somalia: Politics and Government
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her (a) US and (b) Ethiopian counterparts regarding the security situation in Somalia; and if she will make a statement. [136516]
Margaret Beckett: We are in constant contact with our Ethiopian and US counterparts on the situation in Somalia.
We, along with our Ethiopian and US counterparts, agree that there is a real chance for the Somali people to reach a sustainable political solution for Somalia, based on the transitional federal charter; that there is an urgent need to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1744; and that we should urge and support the transitional federal institutions and Government of Somalia in their efforts to lead an inclusive and representative political process in Somalia and to become an effective governing authority.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the number of Ethiopian troops operating in Somalia; and if she will make a statement. [136518]
Margaret Beckett: There are widely varying reports of the number of Ethiopian troops operating in Somalia. We do not know the exact figure as we have no presence in Somalia and we are not aware of Ethiopia confirming the numbers it has in Somalia. However, our best estimate at this stage is that there are likely to be around 4,000.
However, the Ethiopian action in Somalia has resulted in the Transitional Federal Government, the only mechanism through which to restore peace, stability and governance to Somalia, re-establishing itself in Mogadishu and securing authority over the rest of south and central Somalia.
We want Ethiopian troops to withdraw as soon as they can, as Ethiopia has said it wants to. The deployment of the African Union stabilisation force, authorised by UN Security Council Resolution 1744, will help create the conditions for this withdrawal to take place. This is an important step in maintaining security and preventing a return to civil war.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the Islamic Courts’ influence and capability in Somalia; and if she will make a statement. [136525]
Margaret Beckett: The Union of Islamic Courts ceased to exist as an organisation after its collapse in December 2006.
The Government calls on all parties in Somalia to reject violence and commit to peaceful dialogue. The National Reconciliation Congress, which we want the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia to convene as soon as possible, should offer the right platform for this.
Sudan: Terrorism
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the US authorities on the State Department report’s description of the Sudanese regime as a strong partner in the war on terror. [136893]
Dr. Howells: The US State Department’s Country Reports on Terrorism (2006) reflect the current views of the US government. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed the Sudan section, or indeed any other section of this report, with the US government. The current situation in Darfur remains the focus of UK/US discussions on Sudan.
Written Questions
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when she expects to reply to question 136509, on Iraq, tabled by the hon. Member for Billericay on 3 May 2007. [136946]
Margaret Beckett: I replied to the hon. Member today (UIN 136509).
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