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Indonesia: Human Rights
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What representations they have made, directly and through the United Nations, to the Indonesian Government following recent reports that Indonesian army officers found guilty of crimes after the vote for independence in East Timor have had their sentences quashed by the High Court in Jakarta.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: On 24 August the presidency issued a statement on behalf of the European Union expressing concern at the overturning of convictions by the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court in Jakarta.
Turkey: EU Report
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in advance of the European Union summit meeting planned for December 2004, they will report to Parliament on the results of the European Union's assessment of reforms in Turkey, and in particular whether these do full justice to national, ethnic and religious minorities.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We will submit an explanatory memorandum to Parliament on all the Commission's EU enlargement reports, including on Turkey, following their publication in October.
Northern Cyprus
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In what ways the isolation of Turkish northern Cyprus has changed since the approval on 1 May by the majority of Turkish Cypriots of the Annan plan.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: On 24 April Turkish Cypriots expressed their clear desire for a future within the European Union. On 26 April the EU recognised that desire and agreed to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. This in itself was a significant development. The United Nations Secretary General gave further impetus to that goal in his report on his mission of good offices on 28 May.
The European Commission has produced two draft regulations: to enable preferential direct trade between northern Cyprus and the EU, and to put in place a system to disburse 259 million euros of structural funds as agreed at the 26 April General Affairs and External Relations Council. Both regulations are still under discussion between EU member states. Agreement on both regulations is necessary to fulfil the political decision of 26 April to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots.
Since 1 May, Turkish Cypriots with Republic of Cyprus travel documents have had the same rights and entitlement to enjoy the benefits of EU membership as any other EU citizen. The Government are working to ensure that this entitlement can be enjoyed to the fullest extent possible.
Cyprus: Travel Restrictions
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether United Kingdom citizens who fly into Larnaca airport are able to visit northern Cyprus on holiday; and, if so, whether there are any conditions or restrictions.
Barones Symons of Vernham Dean: UK citizens can fly into Larnaca airport and visit the northern part of Cyprus on holiday. It is possible to cross the Green Line at several crossing points.
Cyprus: Non-Cypriot Population
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- As Guarantor Power, what is the estimated number of non-Cypriots in (a) Greek Southern Cyprus; and (b) Turkish Northern Cyprus.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: This is a matter for the relevant Cypriot authorities.
Kazakhstan: British Embassy
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made to relocate the British Embassy in Astana, the new capital of Kazakhstan; and whether it will be a United Kingdom representation or one shared with other European Union nations.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government have publicly committed themselves to move their embassy from Almaty to Astana. As a first step, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office opened an embassy liaison office in February 2004. A team from the UK plans to visit Kazakhstan before the end of this year to identify suitable premises for opening an Embassy in Astana. Our existing embassy in Almaty—where we plan to retain a consulate—is co-located with the French and German Embassies. Should suitable opportunities arise in Astana, we will look to co-locate with EU partners again.
Middle East: Israeli Security Fence
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What they are doing bilaterally with the European Union, the United States and the Quartet to stop further construction by Israel of a barrier within occupied territory.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have made known our views on the illegality of the route of the barrier and have made clear to the Israeli Government that they must re-route the barrier away from occupied land. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary most recently raised the issue with Israeli Vice Prime Minister Olmert on 8 September.
We have worked with EU partners to ensure a consistent common position on the barrier. The EU voted in favour of United Nations General Assembly resolution ES-10/15 on 20 July. This called on the Israeli Government to comply with their legal obligations relating to the route of the barrier, and on the Palestinian Authority and Israeli Government to immediately implement their obligations under the Quartet's roadmap.
We shall continue to work with EU partners and other members of the Quartet to underline the importance of the issue of the barrier. The Quartet has also expressed its concern about the actual and proposed route of the barrier.
EU Citizenship
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What record they have of the number of United Kingdom subjects who have rejected citizenship of the European Union; and what arrangements they have put in place to accommodate their rejection.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Since the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty "every citizen holding a nationality of a Member State shall be a citizen of the Union. Citizenship of the Union shall complement and not replace national citizenship." (TEC Article 17.1). Because it is a consequence of their UK citizenship individual UK citizens cannot separately renounce EU citizenship. They can however choose not to exercise the rights that EU citizenship brings, such as the rights to travel visa-free, study, work, and retire throughout the EU; to live in any EU country, and take out a mortgage, open a bank account, claim free or reduced cost emergency medical care or vote in local and European Parliament elections there; and, in a third country where there is no British Embassy, to get consular help or protection from any EU member state embassy.
Sex Discrimination
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will accept the right of petition under the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discriminaton Against Women; and, if so, when.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We announced on 22 July our intention to accede to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women. The protocol will be laid before Parliament in October. Subject to parliamentary scrutiny being passed, we hope to deposit our instrument of accession with the Secretary General of the United Nations on Human Rights Day, 10 December 2004.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- By what empirical criteria they will evaluate the merits of the right of petition under the United Nations human rights treaties, with particular reference to the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women during the two years after the comming into force of the Optional Protocol to the Convention.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): Following UK acceptance of the Optional Protocol for the Limitation of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, applications to the committee will be monitored on a case by case basis.
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