| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
25 Jun 2007 : Column 208W—continued
Northern Cyprus
Mr. O'Hara:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports she has received of the (a) destruction of orthodox cultural heritage in Northern Cyprus, (b) demolition of houses belonging to Greek Cypriots in the Karpass area, (c) appropriaton of land belonging to Greek Cypriots in the northern part of Cyprus, (d)
agreement of 8 July 2006 between President Papadopoulos and Mr. Talat, (e) opening of crossing points in Nicosia and Kato Pyrgos and (f) measures announced by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus on 21 May 2007 in relation to bi-communal programmes and enterprises. [145955]
Mr. Hoon: The Government are not able to prevent property development in northern Cyprus. We believe that the difficult and complex issue of property is only likely to be fully resolved in the context of a comprehensive settlement. In our contacts with the Turkish Cypriot leadership, we recognise the Turkish Cypriots' need for economic development in support of reunification. But we urge them to ensure that any property development that does take place does so in a manner that is both environmentally sustainable and does not complicate an eventual solution.
Similarly, we call on the Turkish Cypriot administration to show sensitivity to Greek Cypriot churches and cemeteries in the north. Our high commissioner in Nicosia visited the Karpas region on 22 June and raised such issues with his Turkish Cypriot interlocutors.
The 8 July 2006 agreement between the leaders of the two communities presented an opportunity to make progress towards a resumption of full settlement negotiations. Despite attempts since by the UN to implement this agreement no real progress has been made. We continue to urge both sides to show the political will and flexibility required to bridge the gap between words and deeds, and engage constructively with the efforts of the UN. Negotiations on a final political solution have been at an impasse for too long.
We consider that confidence-building measures, such as the opening of Ledra Street, and other crossing points, would help bring the two communities closer together. This message was reinforced in the resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on Cyprus on 15 June. The Security Council's resolution also expressed concern about the diminishing opportunities for bicommunal activity within Cyprus. As such, we hope that the announcement by the Republic of Cyprus of a package of measures to address this will promote reconciliation between the communities.
Occupied Territories
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she held discussions with EU partners in the week commencing 18 June on Israeli settlement building on the E1 plan and elsewhere in the West Bank; and if she will make a statement. [145810]
Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did not hold any discussions about settlement activity in the West Bank with her EU counterparts in the week commencing 18 June.
Settlements are illegal under international law and settlement activity is an obstacle to peace. The Roadmap is clear that Israel should freeze all settlement construction including the “natural growth” of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since 2001. The EU will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders other than those agreed by both
parties. We support this. Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv raised our concerns about settlement activity with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni on 28 May.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she held discussions with the government of Israel in the week commencing 18 June on the demolition or planned demolition by Israel of homes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and if she will make a statement. [145811]
Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed house demolitions with the Israeli government in the week commencing 18 June.
Punitive house demolitions—the demolition of the homes of the families of suicide bombers and militants—were suspended on 17 February 2005. However, due to Israeli restrictions on the granting of housing permits to Palestinians in Jerusalem, Palestinians often build houses without obtaining permits. These homes are then demolished and heavy fines imposed. We are concerned about Israel’s policy of house demolitions, especially in East Jerusalem, which leaves hundreds of Palestinians homeless each year and threatens to change the nature of some areas of the city. We have repeatedly raised our concerns with the Israeli authorities.
Occupied Territories: Exports
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she held discussions with the government of Israel during the week commencing 18 June on the (a) labelling and (b) claiming of trade preferences on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and imported to the EU; and if she will make a statement. [145858]
Dr. Howells: The Government have not had any discussions with the Government of Israel on these issues during the week commencing 18 June.
Under a technical arrangement adopted by the EU-Israel Customs Co-operation Committee on 12 December 2004 all imports from Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and claiming Israeli preferential origin have been required since 1 February 2005 to indicate the place of production and accompanying zip code. The full rate of customs duty is payable on any consignment which is indicated as originating in a settlement.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she held discussions with EU partners during the week commencing 18 June 2007 regarding the effectiveness of EU arrangements for monitoring the importing into the EU of goods produced in Israeli settlements built in the Palestinian territories but labelled as made in Israel; and if she will make a statement. [145862]
Mr. McCartney: EU Foreign Ministers did not discuss settlement goods at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 18 June.
Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences: Christianity
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Pakistani Government on the suspension of Christian students and teaching staff at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences nursing school in Rawalpindi. [145867]
Dr. Howells: We do not usually raise individual cases and have not made representations about the suspension of students and staff at the nursing school in Rawalpindi. However, we do regularly raise our concerns over the difficult situation facing Christian and other minority groups with the Government of Pakistan. Most recently, in May, we again voiced our concerns over the treatment of religious minorities in Pakistan, together with our EU partners.
Pakistan: Honours
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the security of British nationals in Pakistan following statements by Pakistani Ministers on Her Majesty the Queen's Birthday Honours. [145933]
Mr. McCartney: In all parts of the world, we monitor local events that may affect British nationals. Where necessary, we change our travel advice to reflect the situation. We are following events closely in Pakistan and changed the travel advice on 19 June to reflect the fact that anti-UK protests and demonstrations might take place.
Palestinians: Arms Trading
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what military equipment has been provided by the UK to President Abbas's security forces; and if she will make a statement. [145818]
Mr. McCartney: In 2005-06, we provided non-lethal equipment to the Palestinian Authority security forces. This included close protection equipment for the Palestinian Presidential Guard and the upgrading and maintenance of communications equipment.
Palestinians: Overseas Aid
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether her Department has offered (a) financial and (b) other support to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas; and if she will make a statement. [145569]
Dr. Howells:
We continue to support Palestinian President Abbas. At the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 18 June, the EU agreed to resume normal relations with the Palestinian Authority and are looking urgently at direct financial support to the government; support to the Palestinian Civilian Police through the resumption of the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian Territories (EUPOLCOPPS); the resumption of EU Border Assistance Mission Rafah (EUBAM RAFAH); and intensive efforts to build the institutions of the future
Palestinian state. The UK has seconded staff to EUPOLCOPPS and the EUBAM RAFAH. In addition, we have provided non-lethal equipment to the Presidential Guard and radio equipment to the Palestinian Civil Police.
We support President Abbas’ efforts to move the peace process forward. The Quartet (EU, US, UN and Russia) have also given their full support to President Abbas.
Palestinians: Political Discussions
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the (a) United Nations, (b) European Union and (c) Arab League on the current situation in the Palestinian occupied territories; and if she will make a statement. [145017]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has been actively engaged in discussions on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke with Palestinian President Abbas and US Secretary of State Rice on 14 June as well as the Egyptian, Omani and Qatari Foreign Ministers ahead of the Arab League Foreign Ministers meeting on 15 June. She also discussed the current situation with her European counterparts at the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 18 June. She has not recently discussed the issue with the UN Secretary-General, although Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials are in regular contact with their UN counterparts.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the government of Israel in the week commencing 18 June on the situation in the West Bank and Gaza; and if she will make a statement. [145859]
Mr. McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni on 18 June. In the week commencing 18 June, our Ambassador in Tel Aviv had extensive discussions with the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence, among others.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions she had with EU partners in the week commencing 18 June on the situation in the West Bank and Gaza; and if she will make a statement; [145861]
(2) whether she held discussions with the government of Israel during the week commencing 18 June 2007 on the future of the EU-Israel Association agreement; and if she will make a statement; [145863]
(3) whether she held discussions with the government of Israel in the week commencing 18 June 2007 on the impact of Israel’s actions on the effectiveness of association agreements between the EU and Palestine; and if she will make a statement; [145865]
(4) whether she held discussions with EU partners during the week commencing 18 June 2007 on the EU-Israel Association agreement; and if she will make a statement. [145866]
Mr. McCartney: At the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council on 18 June my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, along with other EU Foreign Ministers, discussed the peace process with Israeli Foreign Minister Livni. They discussed the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and next steps. There was no discussion of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she had with the (a) Palestine Liberation Organisation and (b) Palestinian Authority in the week commencing 18 June on the situation in the West Bank and Gaza; and if she will make a statement. [145864]
Mr. McCartney: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials at our Consulate-General in Jerusalem are in regular contact with members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Palestinian Authority.
Project Al-Yamamah
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2007, Official Report, column 1377W, on Project Al-Yamamah, whether the Economic Counsellor gave a written submission to the Government when he met her Department's officials on 19 January 2007 to discuss the termination of the Serious Fraud Office's investigations; and if she will make a statement. [144612]
Margaret Beckett: The Economic Counsellor from the US embassy gave no written submission on this subject, which was not the main topic of the meeting, when he met with Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials on 19 January.
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2007, Official Report, column 1377W, on Project Al-Yamamah, whether she has discussed the issue with her US counterpart; and if she will make a statement. [145111]
Margaret Beckett: There have been no discussions between Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers and US counterparts. But my officials have regular contact with their US counterparts at Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development meetings.
Robert Mugabe
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Stroud of 23 May 2007, Official Report, column 1315W, on Robert Mugabe, what reports she has received on the intentions of the Government of Uganda with respect to inviting President Mugabe to the next Commonwealth Heads of Government; and if she will make a statement. [145174]
Mr. McCartney: President Mugabe withdrew Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth in 2003. Until it rejoins, we do not expect him to be invited to, or to attend, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Russia: Arms Trade
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her Russian counterparts on reducing the trade in small arms to Africa; and if she will make a statement. [145576]
Mr. Hoon: The UK continually engages with the international community, including Russia, to improve international standards of arms exports and highlight the devastating effect of poorly regulated arms exports, particularly on sustainable development.
While no specific bilateral discussions have taken place on small arms and light weapons exports and transfers to Africa, regular senior official level talks are held with Russia on export control issues. The most recent meeting was held in London in May. At this meeting, we restated the UK’s commitment to improving transfer standards for small arms and light weapons and encouraged Russian participation at a Canadian sponsored meeting in August, which will discuss transfer controls in the context of the UN Programme of Action (to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects). We also encouraged Russian engagement in the UN process, now underway, to take forward the initiative for an Arms Trade Treaty, which will cover the trade in small arms and light weapons.
Russia: British Council
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment she has made of the activities of the Russian authorities towards the work of the British Council in Russia; and if she will make a statement; [145112]
(2) whether she has raised the treatment of the British Council in Russia with her Russian counterpart; and if she will make a statement; [145113]
(3) what assessment she has made of the progress towards the conclusion of a new Cultural Centres Agreement with Russia; and if she will make a statement; [145114]
(4) what discussions she has had with her European Union counterparts on the (a) treatment of the British Council in Russia and (b) progress towards the conclusion of a new Cultural Centres Agreement; what the outcome was of those discussions; and if she will make a statement. [145115]
Mr. McCartney: The British Council has been present in Russia for many years,, during which it has enjoyed the support of federal ministries, local authorities and officials for activities in the fields of education, language training, scientific co-operation, culture and the arts. Hundreds of thousands of people across Russia have been able to benefit from the activities of the British Council network.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |