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26 Nov 2008 : Column 1778W—continued
Iran: Sanctions
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on EU sanctions on Iran's (a) oil and gas and (b) financial sector; and when he expects new EU sanctions to be adopted. [236384]
David Miliband: The UK led pressure for a new EU Common Position and Regulation to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1803. The Regulation was adopted on 10 November 2008 and the provisions for increased vigilance over the activities of Iranian financial institutions are now being implemented. HMT have issued guidance on their website:
The UK is continuing to press for additional individuals and entities to be subjected to an EU assets freeze. Following United Nations Security Council Resolution 1835 the UK is also discussing a range of possible EU measures which would go beyond the scope of Security Council resolutions should Iran continue to fail to implement its international obligations. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has signalled, this could include a ban on investment in Iranian liquefied natural gas.
Iraq: Asylum
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many locally engaged Iraqi staff employed by his Department since March 2003 concluded their period of employment on or before 31 December 2004. [239427]
Bill Rammell: In total, there were four Iraqi staff employed locally by the British embassy in Baghdad and the consulate general in Basra who come into this category in the year 2004. This figure does not include any staff who may have been dismissed for misconduct, employed on short-term contracts, or who did not have Letters of Appointment from the respective Mission.
The figures are not available for 2003 because the files have been destroyed.
Mr. Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many locally engaged Iraqi staff employed by his Department on or after 1 January 2005 concluded their period of employment within 12 months of the beginning of their contract. [239428]
Bill Rammell: 13 Iraqi staff employed locally by the embassy in Baghdad and the consulate general in Basra concluded their period of employment within 12 months of beginning work in this period. This figure does not include any staff who may have been dismissed for misconduct, employed on short-term contracts, or who did not have Letters of Appointment from the respective Mission.
Israel: Embassies
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv are employed to work on correspondence; and what the average response time to written correspondence was in the latest period for which figures are available. [239248]
Bill Rammell: There are two staff members at our embassy in Tel Aviv who are employed to work principally on correspondence. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is committed to ensuring that both in London and overseas it responds to all public correspondence inquiries within 20 working days.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent by the British Embassy in Tel Aviv on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the last five years. [239249]
Bill Rammell: Detailed figures prior to May 2006 are not available.
Between 1 May 2006 to 24 November 2008, £30,000 was spent on newspapers, magazines and periodicals.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many receptions held at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv were organised and funded by (a) trade unions, (b) charities, (c) businesses and (d) other types of organisation in each of the last five years; and what income the Embassy received from charges for the use of facilities for receptions in each such year. [239250]
Bill Rammell: No receptions are held at the embassy in Tel Aviv and we do not let the premises to third parties.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was spent on alcoholic drinks for receptions at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv in each of the last five years. [239252]
Bill Rammell: The total spent on alcoholic drinks at the residence in Tel Aviv is as follows:
| Total spent on alcoholic drinks (£) | |
This includes spirits and wines, but excludes beer which is budgeted together with soft drinks. It also excludes the annual Queen's birthday party as this is funded separately.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many receptions were held at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv in each of the last five years. [239253]
Bill Rammell: Our records show that the British embassy in Tel Aviv has held the following receptions:
| Breakfast | Lunch | Tea | Dinner | Buffet | Reception | |
| (1) Including receptions already held and those projected until the end of the year. | ||||||
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost to the public purse of the British Embassy in Tel Aviv was in each of the last five years. [239254]
Bill Rammell: The cost of operating the British embassy in Tel Aviv for each of the last five years is:
| £ million | |
Israel: Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli government on its nuclear weapons. [235986]
Bill Rammell: The UK has consistently urged Israel to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state, and to sign a full-scope safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Kosovo: EU Enlargement
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with EU counterparts on the possible accession of Kosovo to the EU. [235170]
Caroline Flint: The European Council of 19-20 June recalled the European Union's
“willingness to assist the economic and political development of Kosovo though a clear European perspective, in line with the European perspective of the region”.
In the Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2008-09 of 21 October, the European Commission states it
“will examine how best Kosovo can take its part in the progress of the region towards integration with the EU in the context of the Stabilisation and Association Process. The outcome of this analysis will be presented in a feasibility study in the autumn of 2009.”
The government welcome this step.
As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary said in his address to the Kosovo Assembly on 5 November, the United Kingdom looks forward to the day when Kosovo assumes its place at the European table.
Kosovo: Politics and Government
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what progress has been made on the transition between UNMIK and the European Union’s EULEX mission in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement; [236388]
(2) what progress has been made towards achieving full operational capacity for the European Union’s EULEX mission in Kosovo; [236389]
(3) how many EULEX personnel are presently deployed in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [238248]
David Miliband: The process of the reconfiguration of the international presence in Kosovo is under way. A technical arrangement was signed between the EU mission planning team (EUPT) and United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in August allowing for the handover of UNMIK assets to EULEX, such as vehicles and accommodation. Arrangements are also in place for the handover of case files to EULEX staff, including the police and justice components.
EULEX is in the process of deploying in Kosovo and now has about 1,000 staff (of the projected total of 2,200) on the ground. EULEX’s Head of Mission, General Yves de Kermabon, aims to achieve Initial Operational Capability, the point at which EULEX takes on responsibility for the full range of its mandate, including the executive functions, on 2 December. EULEX will then build up further in order to achieve full operational capability in early 2009.
Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the UN Secretary General’s recent six-point proposal for Serb majority areas of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [237677]
Caroline Flint: UN-led discussions continue on the “Six Points” outlined by the UN Secretary-General in his 12 June letters to the Presidents of Kosovo and Serbia.
The “Six Points” address transitional arrangements on six areas (policing, customs, justice, transport and infrastructure, boundaries and cultural heritage) in the context of the reconfiguration of the international presence in Kosovo announced by the UN Secretary-General in
his report of 12 June. HMG welcomed the UN Secretary-General’s reconfiguration proposal and strongly supports efforts to ensure timely and effective transfer of responsibilities from UNMIK to the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) in Kosovo.
We expect the UN Secretary-General to reflect the outcome of these discussions in his forthcoming six-monthly report on the activities of the UN Mission in Kosovo.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the amended United Nations six point plan for deployment of the EULEX mission in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [238244]
David Miliband: The UN Secretary General published his proposals on the “Six Points” in his report to the Security Council of 24 November. The “Six Points” address transitional arrangements on policing, customs, justice, transport and infrastructure, boundaries and cultural heritage in the context of the reconfiguration of the international presence in Kosovo announced by the UN Secretary General in his report of 12 June. At the time of writing, the UN Security Council is expected to discuss the report on 26 November. The UN Secretary General stated that implementation of these temporary arrangements will be carried out on the basis of continuous co-ordination with the authorities in Pristina. A copy of the report is available in the House of Commons Library.
We welcome the UN Secretary General's reconfiguration of the international presences in Kosovo and strongly support efforts to ensure timely and effective transfer of responsibilities from UNMIK to the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) in Kosovo.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in the implementation of the Ahtisaari plan for Kosovo. [238245]
David Miliband: I welcome Kosovo's commitment in its Declaration of Independence to implementing Ahtisaari's Comprehensive Settlement Proposal (CSP). Kosovo has made progress towards implementation of the CSP, including the adoption of a package of legislation by the Kosovo Assembly, which establishes the legal framework for implementation.
Examples of the progress made include:
Entry into force of Kosovo's constitution, which includes provisions to ensure equal rights for all citizens, on 15 June.
Passage of laws to uphold the rights of all Kosovo's communities and to facilitate decentralisation of government.
Designation of Albanian and Serbian as official languages.
At the invitation of the Kosovan government, Pieter Feith was appointed as International Civilian Representative, with responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the Comprehensive Settlement Proposal. Mr. Feith is also the EU Special Representative in Kosovo.
NATO continues to provide an international security presence in Kosovo. It is also active in the field of security sector reform and has been assisting with plans to demobilise the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) and stand up the Kosovo Security Force, which will replace it.
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