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22 Oct 2009 : Column 1622W—continued
Sudan: Internally Displaced Persons
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the security situation in the refugee camps along the Chad-Sudan border, particularly for women and girls; and if he will make a statement. [294678]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The security situation along the Chad-Sudan border is of concern. The UK strongly supports both the UN peacekeeping force, MINURCAT, which helps to protect refugee camps in eastern Chad, and the joint African Union-UN Peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) which helps to protect civilians in Darfur.
UK officials met with the UN Special Representative for the United Nations Mission in Central African Republic and Chad last month and discussed sexual and gender based violence as well as security issues in Eastern Chad.
The UK led on the renewal of UNAMID's mandate in July of this year, which focuses UNAMID on a number of key tasks, including protection of civilians. The renewed mandate also specifically tasks the UN Secretary-General with developing a comprehensive strategy for providing protection to women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence.
Sudan: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the UK's commitment to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan is; and what personnel the UK has trusted in support of this commitment. [292432]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK believes the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is the foundation of future peace and stability in Sudan. The UK was one of the witnesses to the signing of the CPA in 2005 and we are committed to its full implementation, including the referendum on self-determination for South Sudan in January 2011.
Ministers are closely engaged in leading the UK's efforts in Sudan. My hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department for International Development visited Sudan earlier this month and will be meeting with both parties in North and South Sudan to urge them to accelerate implementation of the CPA.
The UK has a strong Government team working on Sudan, led by the UK Special Representative for Sudan, together with our ambassador in Khartoum. We also fund Sir Derek Plumbly as Chairman of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC), the organisation in Sudan charged with monitoring implementation of the CPA.
DFID has a major programme of development assistance to Sudan, with a budget of £115 million for 2009-10, and we provide significant support to both UN missions in Sudan, including deployment of UK military officers.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken on the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan in its role as a co-signatory to the Agreement. [294538]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK believes the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is the foundation of future peace and stability in Sudan and was one of the witnesses to the signing of the CPA in 2005. We are committed to its full implementation, including the referendum on self-determination for South Sudan in January 2011.
The UK has been working closely with partners, including the US and its Special Envoy to Sudan, General Gration, to urge both the National Congress Party and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement to make urgent progress on the outstanding CPA milestones.
My hon. Friend the Minister of State for International Development visited Sudan earlier this month and urged both parties in north and south to ensure that the remaining issues are resolved, including preparations for the elections next year and referendum in 2011. He also underlined the importance that the UK attaches to free and fair elections.
The UK has worked actively to ensure that the decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in July over the boundary of the Abyei area is accepted by both parties. Implementation of the decision is now progressing slowly and we continue to urge timely and peaceful progress. We are concerned that the broader north-south border demarcation process is stalled and have pressed both parties to resolve the remaining areas of contention.
The UK is also working to ensure that critical post-referendum issues, such as wealth-sharing and citizenship rights, are addressed by both parties. These need to be agreed by north and south in advance of the referendum, whatever its outcome, to help ensure that the decision is peaceful. We are supporting work through Chatham House in this area.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on measures to strengthen the Assessment and Evaluation Committee on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan; and if he will make a statement. [294669]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK strongly supports the Assessment and Evaluation Commission (AEC) in Sudan and the work it undertakes to monitor implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
We secured the appointment of Sir Derek Plumbly, a retired UK diplomat, as Chair of the AEC in March 2008 and Sir Derek has worked actively to strengthen the role of the AEC. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for International Development met with Sir Derek during his visit to Sudan last week.
The AEC has been active and instrumental in delivering progress on the CPA: senior representatives from both the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement and the National Congress Party sit on the AEC, with a number of members and observers drawn from the witnesses to the Agreement, and this has provided a forum for open dialogue on the various CPA issues. There are a number of AEC Working Groups that address the various issues, including Power Sharing, Wealth Sharing, Security and the Three Areas.
The UK is active in both the AEC plenary meetings and all of its working groups. We continue to work to support the AEC and ensure that it continues to play a central role in implementation of the CPA.
Telecommunications
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to (a) the Government of Turkey, (b) the Government of Cyprus and (c) the administration in Northern Cyprus on improving communications across the Green Line in respect of (a) the routing of and (b) charges for mobile telephone and internet services. [293700]
Chris Bryant: 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. We continue to discuss this issue and possible confidence building measures with both communities.
Temple Mount
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of stones being thrown at a group of Christian tourists entering the site of the Temple Mount on 27 September 2009; what recent discussions he has had with the Palestinian Authority on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [293288]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We are very concerned by the recent tensions and clashes in Jerusalem. We continue to call on all sides to refrain from proactive action. This holy city is important to Israelis and Palestinians, and to people of three great faiths. Incitement from any quarter does not serve the cause of peace, and must stop.
Terrorism: Finance
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sources of illicit funding for the Taliban his Department has identified other than that derived from the narcotics trade; and if he will make a statement. [293787]
David Miliband: The illicit narcotics trade continues to provide a significant source of income for the Taliban. Other sources of funds are foreign donations, local contributions, illegitimate taxes, ransom for kidnapping, and extortion and smuggling. We are working with our international partners, and through established mechanisms like the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 sanctions regime, to identify and eliminate the Taliban's access to these funding sources.
Treaty of Lisbon
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to hold a referendum on UK ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon; and if he will make a statement. [293653]
Uganda
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implications of UK policy towards Uganda of any discovery of new oilfields in that country. [294849]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Oil companies operating in Uganda have announced significant new discoveries this year in the Albertine Rift Valley region in Western Uganda. Technical and financial challenges remain, but current projections suggest that Uganda could become an oil producing nation within a few years. Oil resources could, if properly managed, help to strengthen Uganda's economy and development prospects.
The UK has urged the Government of Uganda to design and implement sound and transparent strategies for harnessing oil resources that support peaceful economic and political development.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Uganda on the subject of refugees from Sudan in that country. [294850]
Uganda: Armed Conflict
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the status of the peace negotiations with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is; what recent reports he has received of countries where the LRA is active; and if he will make a statement. [292433]
Chris Bryant: The Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) agreed a peace settlement, the Final Peace Agreement (FPA), in April 2008 after almost two years of negotiations mediated by the Government of Southern Sudan. However the LRA has yet to honour its commitment to sign the final peace agreement.
The LRA are known to be operating in Southern Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Government regularly discuss LRA activity with the Government of Uganda, and stress the importance of both continued regional cooperation to deal with the threat and protecting civilian populations from LRA attacks.
At the recent UN General Assembly Ministerial week, my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Ivan Lewis) discussed the LRA with Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa. Our posts in Kampala, Juba, Khartoum, Yaounde and Kinshasa continue to monitor the situation closely, and have raised the issue with other interested parties, including the UN.
UN Security Council
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the papers submitted by the Government to the meeting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council held in London on 3 and 4 September. [294838]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
The UK conference considered confidence building, verification and compliance challenges associated with achieving further progress on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The conference was the first time that senior policy-makers, military officials and technical experts from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (P5) had met to discuss such issues. The P5 agreed that the conference would be
held behind closed doors to facilitate full and frank discussion. The P5 issued a statement summarising the discussions after the conference.
UN: Young People
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his UN counterparts on involvement of young people from the UK in UN activities. [293806]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We strongly welcome interest from British young people on discussions with UN and other counterparts and encourage their involvement in appropriate activities. We are also very active on this issue in London. For example last year my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary hosted a reception for the UN Association's Young Professionals Network (YPN). The YPN brings together young professionals in their twenties and thirties who have a passion for international affairs and who support a strong role for the UN in responding to global challenges. A similar reception will be held in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) later this month.
We are also in close contact with the various Model UN groupings, and representatives from the FCO attend (and speak) at many of their conferences. We are able to provide small amounts of funding to allow these events to take place.
We regularly organise briefings to Model UN groups when they visit New York.
United Nations: Meetings
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed at the meeting of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council in London on 3 and 4 September 2009; and what agreements were reached. [294251]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The UK hosted a conference of senior policy-makers, military officials and technical experts from the P5 (Russia, China, the US, the UK and France) on 3-4 September 2009 to consider the confidence building, verification and compliance challenges associated with achieving further progress on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
The discussions covered ways to increase mutual understanding by sharing definitions of nuclear terminology and information about nuclear doctrines and capabilities; presentations on enhancing strategic stability; ways to build mutual confidence through voluntary transparency; and the international challenges associated with responding to nuclear accidents. The P5 undertook to consider ways to co-operate to address these challenges, and released a statement after the meeting.
Yvonne Fletcher
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the Cabinet Office inquiry into the shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. [294128]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government have no plans to place in the Library of the House a report relating to the shooting of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. A Metropolitan Police Service investigation into her murder is ongoing.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet (a) the Metropolitan Police Service and (b) his Libyan counterpart to discuss the investigation into the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher. [294129]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will meet with the Metropolitan Police Service and the family of WPC Fletcher on Thursday 22 October 2009 to discuss the investigation into the murder of WPC Fletcher. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials also meet regularly with the Metropolitan Police to receive updates. The most recent meeting was on Friday 16 October 2009. No meeting is currently scheduled with the Foreign Secretary's Libyan counterpart.
Culture, Media and Sport
Creativity and Business International Network
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has budgeted for expenditure on the Creativity and Business International Network forum event to be held from 26 to 28 October 2009 at The Grove in Hertfordshire. [294784]
Mr. Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend, the Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism, gave him on 14 October 2008, Official Report, column 1210W. The cost of the event at the Grove is included within the £3 million allocated to this project for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11.
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