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30 Jun 2003 : Column 66W—continued
Kenya
Mrs Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on human rights abuses in Kenya. [121616]
Mr. Mullin: The success of Kenya's democratic elections in December 2002 reflected the progress the country has made on human rights issues in recent years. The new government under President Kibaki are addressing past failures. They have established a Human Rights Commission, and have now ratified all six core UN Human Rights conventions. Kenya has also provided refuge for over 100,000 Somali and Sudanese nationals fleeing conflicts in their respective countries.
While more work is needed, for example, on the police and prison services, we are satisfied that the present Kenyan government are committed to improving human rights. We will continue to work with them on this.
Occupied Territories
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel regarding restriction of fishing off the coast of the Gaza Strip in Occupied Palestinian Territories. [121665]
Mr. Rammell: This Government have expressed our serious concerns to the Israeli Government about restrictions on the free movement of people and essential supplies in the Occupied Territories. We are concerned about the humanitarian and economic consequences of closures and curfews. Economic hardship and unemployment can only fuel hatred and violence and make a comprehensive settlement more difficult to achieve.
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign
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and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Israel concerning food shortages in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the dependence on international aid. [121672]
Mr. Rammell: My hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mike O'Brien) raised with Israel's Ambassador to London on 23 May concerns about restrictions imposed on foreign nationals trying to access the Gaza Strip, hindering UN and aid agencies' efforts to provide humanitarian aid. Officials in both London and Tel Aviv took similar action.
We continue to press the Government of Israel to meet its obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention, including ensuring the provision of food and aid to those in need. We remain concerned about continuing restrictions on access to Gaza and the West Bank and their impact on humanitarian aid operations. We expect Israel to do all it can to ease the situation without delay. Easing restrictions on movement and halting the destruction of Palestinian infrastructure are essential to the recovery of the Palestinian economy and ending dependence on international aid.
Opium Trade
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to curb the opium trade in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. [122004]
Mr. Rammell: The Afghan Transitional Administration adopted a National Drug Control Strategy on 19 May 2003. The UK has committed £70 million over the next three years to assist in the objective of eliminating opium poppy from Afghanistan and will post additional British Embassy personnel to Kabul in the coming months to help the Afghan Transitional Administration to achieve their objective.
Senior Departmental Posts
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many senior departmental posts were advertised in each year since June 1999; and how many of those were advertised in the Scottish press. [120664]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: Since March 2000 we advertise the large scale recruitment campaigns for the Diplomatic Service in papers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Recruitment Section does not have the money to advertise all the senior jobs this widely as they are usually advertised in specialist press as well as a broadsheet.
In 1999 we advertised four senior jobs, none in the Scottish press.
In 2000 we advertised one senior job, not in the Scottish press.
In 2001 we advertised one senior job which was in the Scottish press.
In 2002 we advertised two senior jobs, one of which was in the Scottish press.
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To date in 2003 we have advertised one senior job, not in the Scottish press.
Sierra Leone
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Sierra Leone. [121917]
Mr. Mullin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Rammell) gave on 10 June 2003, Official Report, column 519.
South Africa (Sanctions)
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held in 2003 with President Mbeki of South Africa regarding sanctions against the Zanu PF regime in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement. [122019]
Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Zimbabwe with President Mbeki and Foreign Minister Zuma on 13 to 14 May 2003. He welcomed continued efforts to promote inter-party dialogue. We share the same objective of seeing Zimbabwe return to peace and prosperity. We also agree that bringing this about must ultimately be a matter for the Zimbabwean people. Our views on targeted sanctions are well known to the South Africans.
Sudan
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to promote human rights in Sudan. [121915]
Mr. Mullin: The promotion of human rights in Sudan remains one of our priorities. Our Embassy in Khartoum, the UK Special Representative for Sudan and other UK officials regularly lobby the Government of Sudan at ministerial level on human rights. The EU dialogue with the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement seeks information on measures taken and encourages progress on a range of issues, including on human rights. We are in close contact with opposition and human rights activists.
Uganda
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Uganda on the protection of people in the north and east of Uganda from rebel action. [121540]
Mr. Mullin: We deplore the violence perpetrated against innocent civilians by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). We are particularly concerned about the effect of fighting in the north of Uganda on the local population, who have borne the brunt of the violence. While we sympathise with the Ugandan Government's aim of defeating the LRA, we have, through our High Commission in Kampala, encouraged them to consider alternative methods of bringing the conflict to an end. We will continue to make representations to the Government of Uganda at both ministerial and official level.
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Voluntary Organisations
Mr. Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what funding programmes are operated by his Department to support voluntary organisations working with young people; and what the level of support has been over the last three years. [116491]
Mr. Rammell: Support for voluntary organisations working with young people is not accounted for as a distinct FCO budget line. However, the Human Rights Project Fund (budget of £7 million in 2003–04) this year includes projects totalling £466,867 that involve young people, £264,417 of which is channelled through non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Various bilateral programmes also contain elements which are channelled through NGOs and affect young people, as do some projects of the new Global Opportunities Fund. But identifying the specific elements within these programmes could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost. The same applies to ascertaining the level of support over the last three years.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what (a) recent meetings he has held and (b) meetings he plans to hold with EU leaders in 2003 to discuss the effect of sanctions on Zimbabwe; [122020]
- (2) what plans he has to extend the application of sanctions on Zimbabwe. [122022]
Mr. Mullin: We are in regular contact with our EU partners about sanctions on Zimbabwe. The most recent EU discussion of Zimbabwe was among Political Directors at the Thessaloniki Summit and among Africa Directors on 16 to 17 June 2003. The dates of further ministerial discussions will depend on events on the ground in Zimbabwe.
Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) recent meetings he has held and (b) meetings he plans to hold with the leaders of (i) Namibia, (ii) Nigeria, (iii) Kenya and (iv) Botswana to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. [122021]
Mr. Mullin: We discuss Zimbabwe with other African countries on a regular basis. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Botswana's President Mogae in London on 11 June 2003. Our High Commissioners in Nigeria and Kenya have had recent discussions with their host governments on Zimbabwe. The African Union Summit in Mozambique (10 and 11 July 2003) will provide a further opportunity for Ministers and senior officials to discuss Zimbabwe with African leaders.
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