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Written Answers
Wednesday, 5th May 1999.
Armenian Massacre, 1915-16
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in the interests of preventing genocide in all parts of the world, they will re-publish the government blue book of 1916 on the killing of very large numbers of Armenians throughout Turkey.[HL2067]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): There are no current plans to re-publish The Treatment of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, also known as the blue book, of 1916.
Amsterdam Treaty: Role of EU Institutions
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What additional powers were given to the institutions of the European Union, and what powers were extended, under the provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty.[HL2072]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Treaty of Amsterdam changes the role of the institutions in a number of ways. The European Parliament's role as co-legislator in some areas of Community legislation is strengthened by the extension of co-decision to eight new treaty articles and 15 existing ones. The EP's assent is needed before sanctions are imposed on a member state under new Article 7 TEU. The EP is also given a right to approve the nomination by member states of the Commission President, as well as of other members of the Commission.
The Council is given a new, but restricted, power to conclude international agreements in the fields of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Justice and Home Affairs.
The Commission is given a right of initiative in relation to police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters. The Commission President is given an equal say with member states in the selection of other Commissioners and a role in exercising political guidance over the work of the Commission as a whole.
The European Court of Justice is given a new but limited role in relation to the third pillar under new Article 35 TEU.
The Court of Auditors is given a right of recourse to the ECJ to protect its prerogatives. Its right to audit the handling of EU funds by intermediaries and final
recipients is clarified; and its right to audit Community expenditure and revenue managed by the European Investment Bank is given a clear legal base.Yugoslavia: Eventual Reconstruction
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the United States has undertaken to contribute, and, if so, how and to what extent, to the eventual administration and reconstruction of the countries whose economic and social infrastructure is currently being destroyed by the war in the former Yugoslavia, and whether by military action or by the presence of unsustainable numbers of refugees; and whether it is anticipated that NATO would have any role to play at this stage.[HL2105]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: This is a question that should be addressed to the Government of the United States.
At the 50th anniversary summit in Washington on 23-24 April, NATO leaders agreed that it is our aim to make stability in south-east Europe a priority of our transatlantic agenda. Our governments will co-operate urgently through NATO as well as through the OSCE, and for those of us which are members, the European Union, to support the nations of south-east Europe in forging a better future for their region--one based upon democracy, justice, economic integration, and security co-operation.
Sudan
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they would support a request by the Government of Sudan for a United Nations examination of the site of the al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum if such a motion were presented to the United Nations Security Council.[HL2120]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The way to achieve an examination is for the Sudan to become a party to the Chemical Weapons Convention. This is supported by a verification regime which allows for on-site inspections.
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the involvement with weapons of mass destruction of the al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum was first drawn to the attention of (a) the non-proliferation section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) the Defence Intelligence Staff.[HL2121]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: It is established practice under Section 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose or discuss information received in confidence from foreign governments.
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have raised the issue of Sudan's alleged involvement with weapons of mass destruction and related technology at the United Nations Security Council; and, if so, when and with what result.[HL2122]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No.
Prevlaka Demilitarised Zone
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether Serb forces have recently entered the demilitarised Prevlaka peninsula in Croatia, thus breaching the Dayton Agreement; and, if so, what conclusions they draw.[HL2136]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There is no evidence that the Army of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) has entered Croatian sovereign territory. However, the United Nations has reported that, on 20 April, between 20 and 30 Serb soldiers entered the demilitarised zone in Prevlaka adjacent to Croatia in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1222.
We have concluded that these soldiers were investigating the recently opened crossing point on the border between Croatia and Montenegro. The President of the Security Council announced on 27 April that Serb forces have now begun to withdraw from the demilitarised zone.
North Korea: Ballistic Missile Related Technology
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have inquired of the United States what was it meaning when it warned North Korea of very serious consequences if it test fired or exported a rocket similar to the one that it launched last summer, purportedly as a "small satellite"; whether international law envisages warnings of this kind in relation to activities which are not forbidden; and, if so, in what circumstances.[HL2137]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We cannot comment on the policies of the United States Government in their dealings with the Government of North Korea.
We and our allies continue to discourage the development of ballistic missile related technology as such activity is not in the interests of regional or international security.
EU Policy: Wye Agreement
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 22 March (WA 122), whether they now recognise the bilateral strategic defence agreement between the United States and Israel which
- was signed alongside the Wye Valley Agreement between the US, Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation in which the United States undertook to enhance Israel's "deterrent capabilities"; and whether they consider that such an enhancement would be compatible with Article 1 of the Non-proliferation Treaty.[HL2162]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The fact that the United States and Israel have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a forum to discuss means of enhancing Israel's defence capabilities is a matter of public record. Under Article I of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, nuclear weapon states party to the treaty undertake not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly or indirectly; and not in any way to assist, encourage or induce any non-nuclear weapon state to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices. We have been assured by the Government of the United States that there is no inconsistency between the memorandum and US obligations under Article I of the NPT.
Turkey: Kurdish Areas
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that the refusal of the Turkish authorities to discuss greater autonomy for the Kurdish areas of Turkey may have results similar to those now seen in Kosovo as a result of the Yugoslav Government's refusal to discuss greater autonomy for the Kosovars; and whether they consider that crisis prevention procedures should be set in motion.[HL2165]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have consistently urged the Turkish authorities to address the social and economic problems of south-east Turkey and the aspirations of the Kurdish community there, if lasting peace is to return to the region.
We do not believe there are simple comparisons to be drawn between the situation in Kosovo and other situations such as that in south-east Turkey.
China: Human Rights
Lord Willoughby de Broke asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why they did not table or co-sponsor resolutions on human rights in China at the 55th United Nations Commission for Human Rights.[HL2191]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We believe, as do our European Union partners, that continued dialogue and co-operation with China on human rights are more likely to bring about practical improvement than repeated UN resolutions, all of which have failed to be adopted in the past. This dialogue-based approach
has made limited progress in some areas and we will be pressing China for further improvements. The General Affairs Council therefore decided on 22 March not to table or co-sponsor a resolution on China at this year's Commission on Human Rights.
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