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2 Nov 2009 : Column 661W—continued
Middle East: Armed Conflict
Sir John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason the UK did not participate in the recent vote on the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict at the meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva; and if he will make a statement. [296389]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We have made it absolutely clear that while aspects of the Goldstone report were flawed it raised very serious issues that we want to see addressed. We also made it clear that the resolution did not adequately address Hamas' actions and Israel's right to protect its citizens.
We did not vote because we were in the middle of detailed discussions about three key issues: the establishment of an independent inquiry, access for humanitarian aid to Gaza and how to restart the peace process. We were pursuing these at the highest level, between my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, French President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. The vote was called in the middle of those discussions and we did not wish to compromise the detailed work on those fundamental issues.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on (a) violent incidents in Jerusalem and (b) the numbers of people injured in such incidents. [296499]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We are extremely concerned by recent disturbances in Jerusalem. We are unable to confirm the numbers of people injured, but our consulate general in Jerusalem is monitoring the situation on the ground extremely closely.
We call on all parties to show restraint, and refrain from provocative actions in order to prevent the situation escalating. The EU presidency made this clear to both Israeli and Palestinian authorities on 26 October 2009.
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on investigations by the Israeli government in relation to the recent conflict with Palestine. [296500]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had numerous conversations with Israeli and Palestinian leaders as well as with key Arab, European and US partners about the need for proper investigations of abuses alleged to have been committed by both sides
during the Gaza conflict. I raised the need for such investigations with my Israeli counterpart on 27 October 2009. Our officials in Tel Aviv, Geneva, New York and elsewhere have also discussed the issue with their counterparts.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps at the United Nations he (a) has taken since July 2009 and (b) plans to take in the next six months to seek to prevent (i) weapons and (ii) funds from the government of Iran being sent to terrorist groups in (A) Afghanistan, (B) Iraq, (C) Gaza and (d) Lebanon; and if he will make a statement. [296573]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Government fully support UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1747, paragraph five of which calls upon Iran not to supply, sell or transfer directly or indirectly from its territory any arms or related materiel, as well as other relevant UNSCRs including 1701 and 1860.
Following a number of interdicted shipments, we assess that Iran continues to act in breach of that Resolution by its ongoing supplying of weapons and funding to militia in Iraq, the Taliban in Afghanistan, Hamas and Hezbollah. This is unacceptable and further undermines international confidence in Iran.
We will continue to work through the UN and with international partners to urge Iran to comply with its UN obligations.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has (a) taken during the last six months and (b) plans to take during the next six months to tackle the shipment of weapons and funds from Iran to (i) Afghanistan, (ii) Iraq, (iii) Lebanon and (iv) Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [296574]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: We take Iran's support for militia in Iraq, the Taleban in Afghanistan, Hamas and Hezbollah seriously and will continue to work with international partners to urge Iran to play a more constructive role in the middle east region. We will continue to support the full implementation of existing UN Security Council Resolutions which prohibit Iran from supplying or selling arms or related materiel.
Iranian support to illegitimate armed groups in Iraq (including supply of weapons, training or funding) is unacceptable.
We have successfully interdicted some Iranian weapon shipments in Afghanistan which has led to temporary reductions in activity. We will continue to work with the Afghan Government to confront this.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the level of smuggling of (a) arms and (b) other material into Gaza from (i) Egypt and (ii) other countries; and if he will make a statement. [296612]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
The level of smuggling of other material into Gaza is significant, but difficult to assess. Reports from Gaza suggest that a wide variety of goods which cannot be imported any other way are entering through the tunnels, and are then available on the open
market. Arms are undoubtedly part of this trade. According to a recent UN report approximately 100,000 litres of diesel and 100,000 litres of petrol are transferred into Gaza via the tunnels each day.
We will continue to urge action to prevent arms smuggling and press the Israeli authorities to ease border restrictions into Gaza and allow the passage of essential humanitarian aid and reconstruction material. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stressed this point most recently in his joint letter, on 16 October 2009, with President Sarkozy to Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the effectiveness of the security barrier between Israel and the West Bank in preventing terrorist activity in Israel; and if he will make a statement. [296625]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Israel is entitled to build a security barrier to protect its citizens from acts of violence. But the barrier should be confined to Israeli territory and not encroach on occupied territory. In some places, the barrier breaks up Palestinian territory, cuts Palestinian farmers off from their land and divides Palestinian communities, separating people from their families. We have particular concerns about the route of the barrier near East Jerusalem.
In recent years, there has been a drop in the number of terrorist attacks in Israel. The political context is clearly an important factor. The barrier, which remains far from complete, may have played a role. There has also been a notable improvement in security provided by the Palestinian Authority Security Forces in the West Bank in line with Palestinian commitments under the Roadmap.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to seek to secure the release of missing Israeli servicemen reported to be held by (a) Hezbollah, (b) Hamas and (c) Iran; and if he will make a statement. [296650]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: In August 2009, I met Gilad Shalit's father during my visit to Israel and I reaffirmed, both privately and publicly, our call for Hamas to release Gilad Shalit immediately and without conditions.
Middle East: Economic Situation
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of progress in economic development in (a) the West Bank and (b) Gaza; and if he will make a statement. [296618]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The economic situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories remains difficult. According to the World Bank, gross domestic product is estimated to have declined by 34 per cent. in real per capita terms over the last decade.
More recently, increased international aid in 2008 and 2009 has allowed Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad to stabilise the public finances and pay salaries in both the West Bank and Gaza. The economy of the West
Bank has also benefited from the improved security provided by the Palestinian security forces and from the removal of some obstacles to movement around the West Bank by the Israeli Government.
The International Monetary Fund recently estimated that growth in the West Bank could reach 7 per cent. for 2009. But unemployment remains close to double the level of a decade ago and much more needs to be done to return the economy to sustainable growth.
In Gaza, the situation remains extremely serious. Israeli restrictions mean the productive sector of the economy has come to an almost complete standstill. Some 95 per cent. of the manufacturing sector has shut operations and exports have effectively ceased. The economy now depends on Palestinian Authority and UN salaries together with illicit earnings from smuggling as the main sources of income. Official unemployment stands at 42 per cent. but the actual figure is likely to be in excess of 50 per cent. and there are worrying levels of aid dependence.
We are working to support economic growth. We also call on the Israeli Government to go further in removing movement restrictions, to release telecoms frequencies for a second Palestinian mobile operator, to resume normal banking relations with Palestinian banks and to remove other barriers to economic growth.
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the report of the UN fact finding mission of the Gaza conflict; and if he will make a statement. [296615]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: As our ambassador made clear to the Human Rights Council, the UN fact finding mission on Gaza has its flaws:
not adequately recognising Israel's right to protect its citizens or paying sufficient attention to Hamas's actions;
making broad assertions about detailed interpretation of international law with which we differ; and
(because Israel did not cooperate) lacking an authoritative Israeli perspective so crucial to determining the legality of actions.
However, the report raises very important issues that are of serious concern and that we want to see addressed. Rocket attacks by Palestinian militants targeted at innocent civilians in southern Israel constitute a breach of international humanitarian law. The report also makes serious allegations about Israeli conduct and we urge the Israeli Government to carry out full, credible and impartial investigations into the concerns raised by the report.
The full text of our intervention can be found at:
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the US Administration on the Middle East peace process; and if he will make a statement. [296622]
Mr. Ivan Lewis:
The US Administration, from the President down, have made clear their commitment to restarting negotiations and continue to work towards
that goal. We are offering them our full support, as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on 11 October 2009 and Senator George Mitchell on 28 October 2009. While significant obstacles undoubtedly remain, the alternatives to credible negotiations towards a two-state solution are far worse.
Police Dependants' Trust
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on the purposes for which the payment for £250,000 given to his Department on behalf of Colonel Gadaffi by the hon. Member for Southend East in March 1993 and intended for the Police Dependants' Trust was used. [296733]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not hold information relating to a payment of £250,000 made by the Libyan Government in 1993. The FCO is aware, however, that upon resumption of diplomatic relations in 1999 the Libyan Government admitted general responsibility for the murder of WPC Fletcher and agreed to pay compensation to the Fletcher family.
Somalia: Piracy
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many incidents of piracy involving (a) UK-owned vessels and (b) UK citizens have occurred in the waters off the coast of Somalia since January 2009; and if he will make a statement. [296898]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: As of 29 October 2009 there has only been one incident with UK citizens onboard this year, which involved the UK-owned yacht Lynn Rival with two UK citizens onboard.
In May 2009 there was an attempted attack on the UK-owned merchant vessel Hibiya Park but the attack was disrupted.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial assistance his Department has provided for international efforts to tackle piracy in the waters off the coast of Somalia since 2008; and if he will make a statement. [296899]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: As part of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has led and funded two needs assessments missions alongside the EU, UN and US to the countries surrounding Somalia in order to assess the priorities for development in the legal, judicial, penal and maritime sectors. They have visited Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Yemen, Tanzania and the Seychelles. The FCO has also funded the participation of key partners, such as Somali representatives, at meetings of Working Group 1 of the CGPCS. It has also funded UK attendance at national and international meetings discussing efforts to counter piracy.
The UK is contributing to three international counter-piracy operations: providing the operation headquarters and operation commander to the EU Naval Force (Operation Atalanta); a frigate, tanker, and deputy commander to the Combined Maritime Forces; and a
frigate and the current command of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 conducting Operation Ocean Shield. The FCO contributes to the UK's tri-departmental assessed contributions of £1.2 million towards the cost of Operation Atalanta. The UK also provides the UK Maritime Trade Organisation, coordinating the movement of merchant shipping and acting as a first point of contact for any ships attacked in the region.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of international efforts to tackle piracy in the waters around the coast of Somalia; and if he will make a statement. [296900]
Mr. Ivan Lewis: Although this year has seen an increase in the number of attempted pirate attacks (156 attacks from January-September 2009, compared to 111 attacks from January-September 2008), the number of successful attacks has reduced significantly, especially in the critical Gulf of Aden transit artery. According to International Maritime Bureau statistics the actual rate of successful hijacking against attacks has reduced from one in three in December 2008 to one in 11 in June 2009.
Up to 30 September 2009 the EU Naval Force had successfully escorted 44 World Food Programme (WFP) vessels, providing 220,880 tons of aid to Somalia, which the WFP would otherwise not have been able to send.
Furthermore international efforts to tackle piracy off the coast of Somalia have achieved unprecedented levels of naval coordination with international partners including India and China coordinating their efforts with EU, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and coalition forces through a Shared Awareness and Deconfliction forum. The Contact Group of Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) represents 53 nations. The CGPCS also established the New York Declaration (to which the UK is a signatory) that strengthens best management practices in dealing with piracy as well as supporting regional capabilities to tackle piracy.
The international community in conjunction with the International Maritime Organisation have also established a code of best practice for industry while travelling off the coast of Somalia. Between December 2008 and October 2009 there has only been one successful attack on a ship complying with best management practices while transiting the Gulf of Aden. Agreements have been initiated with Kenya and the Seychelles to allow pirates apprehended in the region to be prosecuted there.
Collectively, these measures are improving the effectiveness of the international community's efforts to tackle piracy off the coast of Somalia, but in the long term the solution has to be found on land. To this end Working Group 1 (chaired by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) led a regional needs assessment to the Horn of Africa in September 2009, which provided a clear map on how regional states can be assisted in addressing piracy on land as well as at sea.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times Working Group 1 of the Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia has met since its formation; and what topics were discussed at such meetings. [296901]
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