Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 30 December 2015 (HL4621), whether they consider the four prisoners, including Jason Rezaian, recently released by Iran to the US each had dual citizenship, and whether they will use those cases as precedents in their approach to the case of Kamal Foroughi.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We welcome the release of US prisoners held in Iran. The agreement between the US and Iran was a bilateral one, and has not changed Iran’s policy of not recognising dual nationality. We continue to raise our own consular cases, including Mr Foroughi, with the Iranians at the highest levels and to urge for their release.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the P5+1 agreement with Iran, what evidence they have that political prisoners such as Kamal Foroughi and Jason Rezaian have been released, or are being considered for early release, from detention; and what specific evidence they have of any overall progress in respect of such prisoners with UK or US passports.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have no evidence that dual national political prisoners such as Kamal Foroughi and Jason Rezaian have been, or are being considered, for early release from detention. Nor have we received specific evidence of any overall progress in respect of these dual national cases. Iran does not recognise dual nationality and as such we are not granted consular access in these cases. We continue to lobby the Iranian Government at the highest level. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised these issues with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif and President Rouhani during his trip to Iran in August. The Foreign Secretary also raised it with Foreign Minister Zarif at the UN General Assembly in September. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) raised the case with President Rouhani during a telephone call in July, and wrote a further letter on this matter in October.Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they were consulted and informed about the US decision to lift its arms embargo on the Republic of Cyprus, and by whom; how and when that decision is to be implemented; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that decision on the current Cyprus talks process.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We understand that, contrary to media reports in Cyprus, the United States (US) government has not decided to lift its International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions on its defence trade with the Republic of Cyprus. The US has amended Section 1276 of its National Defence Authorisation Act so that the US Departments of State and Defence are required to submit a report to Congress assessing the US-Cyprus security relationship, including the impact of US trade constraints on defence-related goods and services to the island. This does not affect the US ITAR restrictions on defence trade with the Republic of Cyprus.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of India concerning the case of six British ex-servicemen who were members of the crew of the US ship MV Seaman Guard Ohio, and who have been held in India since 2013.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have raised this case at the highest levels nearly thirty times since November 2013, making clear the enormous stress and difficulty the situation has caused these men and their families.
We will continue to use every opportunity to raise this case. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), raised it most recently for the third time with Prime Minister Modi during his visit to the UK in November. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), raised the case with the Indian Minister of External Affairs at the UN General Assembly on 29 September, and Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised it on 24 November with Indian High Commissioner Mathai.
We cannot interfere in the Indian legal process, but will continue to press for this case to be resolved.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Iranian refugees with United Kingdom connections have been assessed in either Camp Ashraf or Camp Liberty since they were first left to the responsibility of the government of Iraq; how many such refugees have been admitted to the United Kingdom in the interim; and what assessment they have made of how many refugees overall have died as a result of (1) violence, or (2) lack of access to proper medical care.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have re-admitted four individuals from Camp Ashraf who hold valid UK travel documents. The Home Office exceptionally agreed to consider whether 52 residents of Camp Liberty previously settled in the UK, but who left many years ago, should be readmitted. Seventeen residents approved for resettlement in the UK by the Home Office are now in the UK. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has also referred 34 further residents and a decision from the Home Office is pending. We do not keep records of fatalities at Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty. We continue to engage with the Government of Iraq on the welfare of the residents of Camp Liberty. Our Embassy in Baghdad regularly raises this issue with the Government of Iraq. We support UN calls for more to be done to protect residents, but remain of the view that the Government of Iraq is responsible for security at the camp. Officials from our Embassy visited Camp Liberty on 28 April and stated that the camp hospital and dentist clinic appeared well maintained and stocked. UN Assistance Mission for Iraq monitors confirmed that, when needed residents, are permitted to leave the camp to attend hospital appointments and for treatment.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in line with the United States State Department admitted practice, United Kingdom officials based in Iraq continue to avoid visiting Camp Liberty; and whether they will place in the Library of the House the latest monitor's report by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq and those from the government of Iraq.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We continue to engage with the Government of Iraq on the welfare of the residents of Camp Liberty. Our Embassy in Baghdad regularly raises this issue with the Government of Iraq. We also support UN calls for more to be done to protect residents, but remain of the view that the Government of Iraq is responsible for security at the camp.
Officials from our Embassy in Baghdad do not avoid visiting Camp Liberty. Embassy officials last visited the camp on 28 April to assess living conditions, which the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq judge to be well in excess of basic humanitarian standards. Officials plan to visit again soon, provided the security situation allows, and are arranging to meet with the residents’ representatives.
While the Government of Iraq maintains records of the management of the camp, we are not aware of a regular, consolidated report produced by the government.
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq's monitoring reports have a restricted distribution. As we are not the owners of this information we are unable to place them in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of Cypriot President Anastasiades' recent visit to Moscow and his indication that Russian military basing facilities may be made available in Cyprus, what they now consider may be the strategic impact of the Prime Minister’s agreement made during President Anastasiades' visit to the United Kingdom in January 2014 regarding a right of development within the United Kingdom’s Sovereign Base Areas.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have been, and remain, in frequent discussions with the Republic of Cyprus about security and defence matters, and have been briefed on the agreements signed in Moscow. It is our understanding that the defence and security aspects of these formalise arrangements already in place. President Anastasiades has also explicitly ruled out the use of Limassol port for military purposes.
The visit of President Anastasiades to London in January 2014, and the arrangement on Non Military Development (NMD) reaffirmed the strong bonds of friendship and partnership which exist between Cyprus and the UK across many areas, notably defence, security, EU reform, and foreign policy cooperation. NMD is a further measure of normalisation of administrative planning rules, and shows that the UK and Cyprus are serious about working together on our shared interests.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they were consulted by the London School of Economics concerning its decision to refuse admittance to previously invited guests at a lecture by the Foreign Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Ozdil Nami, on 17 February, because of threats of violence by Greek-Cypriot activists, and if so when; whether the Cyprus Embassy lodged any form of objection with them; and what response was tendered.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We were not consulted by the London School of Economics on the matters referred to by the noble Lord, Lord Maginnis, nor did the High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus lodge any objection with us.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have actively sought to ameliorate the embargo on the Turkish Cypriot community in accordance with Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 573 (1974); whether they consider that the resolution continues to be binding; and what measures they have taken to ensure that they have exercised equity and equality in dealing with both communities in Cyprus.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government recognises that the status quo in Cyprus causes serious difficulties for Turkish Cypriots, and we support measures aimed at reducing their isolation. We remain committed to supporting the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community including through financial aid and trade liberalisation from the EU. At Cyprus' Universal Periodic Review at the UN Human Rights Council, the UK suggested that measures should be taken to enable Turkish Cypriots to participate effectively in cultural, social and economic life and public affairs. We also support the European Commission’s proposal for a direct trade regulation to enhance the Turkish Cypriot community’s access to EU markets. Disagreements over the legal basis mean that this has unfortunately not yet been agreed.
While resolutions of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly are not legally binding, the hope expressed in Resolution 573 for a lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem remains pertinent today. Indeed, the best way of resolving the challenges faced by both communities is through a comprehensive settlement to end the division of the island. We therefore continue to support strongly UN-led efforts to reunify Cyprus through a lasting and just settlement. The UK supports all communities on the island in their efforts towards this goal.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the 29 December 2014 statement by the Greek Cypriot Archbishop Chrysostomos II in respect of civil and human rights for Turkish Cypriots; what recognition they accord to the role of the Archbishop in Greek Cypriot decision-making; and what impact this statement will have on their current policy towards the Cyprus.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government is aware of the statement made on 26 December by Archbishop Chrysostomos II. While we have not made an assessment of that statement, we recognise that the unresolved political situation in Cyprus has also given rise to human rights challenges for both communities and for religious minorities on the island. The recent UN “Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the question of human rights in Cyprus” notes that the persisting division of the island remains an obstacle to the full enjoyment of human rights by all Cypriots. The report concludes that the human rights situation in Cyprus would be greatly improved by the achievement of a comprehensive settlement. The Government shares this assessment.
We recognise the importance of the Church of Cyprus in Greek Cypriot society. Civil society, including religious leaders, can play a vital role in supporting efforts towards reunification by building bridges between communities. Archbishop Chrysostomos II has himself played a role in nurturing inter-faith dialogue, notably through his role in the 2014 Good Friday service in Famagusta.
The Government continues strongly to support UN-led efforts to end the division of the island through a lasting and just settlement.