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3 Dec 2007 : Column 1042W—continued
Bosnia: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are in place to allow EUFOR to draw on the shared EU/NATO Operational Reserve Force in the event of deterioration of the security situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [170414]
Mr. Jim Murphy:
The EU forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina Operation Plan agreed by EU member states makes provision for pre-identified contributing nations to maintain reserve units in their home
locations in readiness for rapid deployment in the event of deterioration of the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As the Operational Reserve Force is also designated to reinforce the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Kosovo Force (KFOR), close co-ordination is maintained at all times between the EU, NATO and contributing nations.
Mr. Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the current presence of 2,500 EU troops in Bosnia-Herzegovina is sufficient to deal with any threats to the country's stability in the period prior to and after the end of the Kosovo final status talks. [170795]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The military advice is clear that the security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina means current EU Forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina troop levels are sufficient. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has an operational reserve force consisting of three battalions for the Balkan theatre, should military commanders judge that reinforcements are necessary.
Chad: Frontiers
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the Government have put forward for strengthening borders between Chad, the Central African Republic and Sudan. [168732]
Meg Munn: In response to the continuing security and humanitarian crisis in Chad, in September the UK co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 1778, which authorises the deployment of an EU force (EUFOR) and a UN multidimensional mission (MINURCAT) to Chad. The force aims to contribute to the stabilisation of the regions in eastern Chad and north eastern Central African Republic which border Sudan. Improved security will facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and help create the conditions necessary for voluntary, secure and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons. EUFOR and MINURCAT support the larger African Union/UN mission to Darfur, which is mandated to protect civilians and is in the process of being deployed.
Long-term peace and security in the region needs to be underpinned by a lasting political solution. The UK supports the agreement reached between President Deby and Chadian rebel groups on 25 October in Sirte, Libya and urges all parties to implement the ceasefire. The EU is also sponsoring a process of dialogue between President Deby and the political opposition forces in Chad, which should contribute to creating a more stable political environment in which to promote peace. The UK takes every opportunity to call on the governments of Chad and Sudan to fulfil their obligations under the Tripoli agreement, which calls for a ceasefire between Chad and Sudan, and an end to support for armed movements, which destabilise the region.
Chad: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what (a) equipment and (b) personnel non-EU countries have pledged to the EU peacekeeping mission to Chad and the Central African Republic; [168731]
(2) what representations the Government have (a) made and (b) received on numbers of helicopters available for the EU peacekeeping mission to Chad and the Central African Republic; and if he will make a statement; [168734]
(3) what assessment he has made of whether the EU peacekeeping mission to Chad and the Central African Republic will be deployed by December; and if he will make a statement. [168735]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The Government strongly support the EU peacekeeping mission and are actively engaged in finding an effective and lasting solution to the wider problems faced in the Chad/Darfur region. The ‘force generation’ process for the EU military force (EUFOR) is currently under way. We have made clear to the EU and to partners bilaterally that, due to other operational commitments, the UK contribution to the force will not include helicopters. A number of non-EU member states have shown strong interest in participation, but there have been no formal offers of assistance to date. Progressive deployment will begin once force generation and other necessary preparations are complete—EUFOR is currently expected to reach its initial operating capacity in early 2008.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Government have had with their European counterparts on the deployment of the EU peacekeeping mission to Chad and the Central African Republic; and if he will make a statement. [168733]
Meg Munn: On 15 October my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary attended the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) which agreed the joint action on the deployment of the EU military operation in Chad and the Central African Republic (EUFOR) in support of a multidimensional UN presence. The UK strongly endorsed this proposed deployment. At the GAERC of 19 November, my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary and my hon. Friend the Minister for Europe (Mr. Jim Murphy) continued discussions with their counterparts on the planning and deployment of EUFOR.
The UK has continued to give strong support in the EU to ongoing planning and preparation for EUFOR, which will play a significant role in the international community's efforts to bring relief and stability to the region.
China: Capital Punishment
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Chinese Government on its use of the death penalty. [168906]
Meg Munn: We regularly raise the death penalty with the Chinese government. We welcome the return of authority to the Supreme People's Court to review all death penalty sentences from 1 January 2008. We continue to urge China to adopt transparency on death penalty statistics and to reduce the scope of the death penalty in order to comply with Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). During his visit to China in August my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, urged China to ratify the ICCPR as soon as possible. The Director of Public Prosecutions also raised ICCPR and China's criminal justice system when he visited Beijing in September. The death penalty was discussed at the most recent round of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, held in Beijing on 17 October 2007, and also at the last round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue, held in London on 5 February 2007.
China: Human Rights
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the authorities of the People's Republic of China on the (a) continued detention and (b) nationality of Yoo Sang-joon. [166854]
Meg Munn: We are aware that Yoo Sang-joon is facing a criminal trial in Inner Mongolia for actions which appear to have been motivated by humanitarian concerns. We have not raised this case with the Chinese authorities. Mr. Yoo is a naturalised South Korean, whose nationality is recognised by the Chinese. He has received South Korean consular visits and we understand a South Korean consul will attend his trial, scheduled for 26 November. We will continue to monitor this case.
CIC Material
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2007, Official Report, column 214W, on CIC material, for what reason his Department wished to protect the process used by John Williams; and what the public interest was in releasing the information. [169881]
Dr. Howells: It is important, as a matter of principle that the space in which all officials draft is protected. However, on further consideration we concluded that this principle would not be undermined in this case if the information in the redaction were released.
Cyprus
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards demining in Cyprus by (a) the Republic of Cyprus, (b) Turkey and (c) Turkish Cypriots; and if he will make a statement. [163627]
Mr. Jim Murphy:
The latest report of the UN Secretary-General in June 2006 indicated that Nicosia had been declared landmine-free. The UN Peacekeeping Force in
Cyprus (UNFICYP), on behalf of the Mine Action Centre, has been continuing discussions to identify additional mined areas and to agree on terms for their clearance. From the inception of the programme in October 2004, over 2.2 million square metres of land have been released, with 25 minefields cleared and 2,816 mines destroyed (1,320 anti-personnel and 1,496 anti-tank). 323,153 square metres of land have been released through survey activities since the last UNFICYP report. In December 2006, the EU confirmed, that an additional €4 million would be made available for Mine Action, bringing the total amount of EU funding to €9 million.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to (a) Turkey and (b) Turkish Cypriots on the return of Famagusta/Varosha; and if he will make a statement. [163796]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Over the years, Famagusta and the port of Famagusta have been the subject of a series of proposals for confidence building measures. A 2004 proposal from the Government of Cyprus linked preferential Turkish Cypriot trade with the EU through the port of Famagusta with the return of the closed city of Varosha. Although it has not been possible to agree a confidence building measure involving Varosha, we continue to encourage the parties to think creatively about all such symbolic aspects of the Cyprus problem. If it does not prove possible to address Varosha in isolation, it will undoubtedly have to be addressed as part of a comprehensive settlement.
Ministers and officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office hold discussions with their Turkish counterparts and Turkish Cypriot community leaders on a range of issues relating to the current situation in Cyprus, including the issues relating to the return of Famagusta/Varosha. Ultimately, we believe that the ongoing division of the island, and the issues attached to it, can only be resolved through a comprehensive settlement brokered by the UN. We continue to urge both sides to show the political will and flexibility to bridge the gap between words and deeds, and to engage constructively with the UN’s efforts to broker a comprehensive and durable settlement.
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the UK and Turkey on existing processes aimed at resolving the current situation in Cyprus; and whether he has received representations from other EU member states on the matter. [165933]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The UK/Turkey Strategic Partnership (formerly UK/ Turkey Action Plan) is a formalised dialogue that has existed between the UK and Turkey since 2004.
The UK/Turkey Agreement reflects our longstanding commitment to helping secure a lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem. We continue to support wholeheartedly the 8 July 2006 agreement between the two leaders. In support, the UK/Turkey Strategic Partnership includes a section reiterating
longstanding commitments to bring the Turkish Cypriot community closer to Europe, which we believe will facilitate any future Cypriot settlement agreement by reducing economic disparities and putting market forces at the service of a settlement.
Both Greece and the Republic of Cyprus have made representations over the Agreement. Dialogue with both the Republic of Cyprus and Greece show that, while we share the same strategic objective of reunifying Cyprus, there are honestly held differences of opinion on how to achieve this. We continue to discuss all such differences of opinion, with the ultimate objective of achieving a Cyprus settlement acceptable to all Cypriots. The UK shares many vital interests with both countries, and its bilateral relations with both countries remain, as ever, very important.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the factors affecting the use of telecommunications across the green line in Cyprus. [163220]
Mr. Jim Murphy: It is clear that the separate telecommunications systems that exist on either side of the green line inhibit cost-effective communication between north and south. The Government would welcome any initiatives that would enhance communication between the two communities.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of (a) the scale of cross-green line trade and (b) obstacles to growth of cross-green line trade in Cyprus; and if he will make a statement. [163221]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The European Commission's 2007 report on the green line regulation (GLR), available at:
sets out in detail the scale of green line trade, and existing obstacles. In the period May 2006 to April 2007 the value of goods traded across the green line was €3,380,805, compared to a figure of €1,734,770 in the previous reporting period.
Some of the obstacles cited in the report include the limited type and value of goods permitted under the GLR and political pressure to prevent the development of trade. We would support measures to expand the GLR, thereby putting market forces at the service of a comprehensive settlement.
Dalits: Human Rights
Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will urge the European Union to raise the human rights situation of Dalits during the next round of the ad hoc EU-India human rights dialogue; and if he will make a statement. [164695]
Meg Munn [holding answer 29 November 2007]: We continue to play an active role in the regular EU-India human rights dialogue.
Under the UK presidency of the EU in 2005, the EU held a first human rights dialogue with India. The discussions covered a range of issues relating to minorities, including the Dalits, and minority rights. We continued discussions in last year’s human rights dialogue. Discussions among EU partners are currently under way on what human rights issues should feature on the agenda for the next human rights dialogue, although a date for the dialogue has not yet been agreed. The UK will continue to work with the EU on a range of issues relating to minorities and their rights, including the Dalits.
Departmental Computers
Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department’s (a) computers and (b) laptops have been stolen in 2007; and what the value of those items was. [168600]
Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments’ procedures will be made on completion of the review.
Departmental Data Protection
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reviews have been undertaken of his Department’s rules on data protection in the last two years; if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the last review of his Department’s compliance with data protection laws; and if (a) his Department and (b) his Department’s agencies will undertake a review of their compliance with data protection laws. [168088]
Meg Munn: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21 November 2007, Official Report, column 1179. The review by the Cabinet Secretary and security experts is looking at procedures within Departments and agencies for the storage and use of data. A statement on Departments’ procedures will be made on completion of the review.
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