Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What recent assessment he has made of diplomatic relations with Oman.
Answered by Alistair Burt
2017 was a very positive year for UK-Oman relations. As the Foreign Secretary made clear on his visit in December, Oman is a friend and a longstanding British ally with shared interests across diplomatic, economic and security matters. We are working more closely than ever across these fields.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when a Minister of his Department last undertook an official visit to Cyprus.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The most recent official visit by a Foreign Office Minister to Cyprus was by the Foreign Secretary on 30 November last year. I also visited Cyprus on 6-8 September. The Secretary of State for Defence made an official visit to Cyprus earlier this month, on 10 February.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the talks on a Cyprus settlement are scheduled to reconvene.
Answered by Alan Duncan
The leaders of the two Cypriot communities are continuing to hold talks on-island, facilitated by the UN. No date has yet been set for the continuation at political level of the Conference on Cyprus, convened in Geneva on 12 January under the auspices of the UN Secretary General, with the participation of the two leaders and representatives of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom (as Guarantor Powers). It is for the two leaders to decide when to reconvene the Conference, in consultation with the UN and the Guarantor Powers. The UK stands ready to participate at the appropriate level.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Government of Algeria on the political and security situation in that country.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
British Government ministers and officials discuss regularly with Algerian counterparts the political and security situation in Algeria, including through twice yearly bilateral security talks. The last security talks took place in London in December 2016, during which I also had a meeting with the Algerian Deputy Foreign Minister.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political and international security situation in Algeria.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We assess that the Government of Algeria is working to achieve its goals of sustainable security, stability and prosperity in the country and wider region. The UK and other members of the international community are supporting Algeria in this work.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to visit Oman in 2015.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I plan to travel to Oman later this year for the eighth UK-Oman Joint Working Group. These biannual meetings with my Omani counterpart are a good opportunity to discuss areas of shared interest in foreign policy and bilateral issues as well as business and investment opportunities.Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the current conflict in Yemen since 7 May 2015.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We remain supportive of the Saudi Arabian-led military intervention in Yemen following President Hadi’s request for support by ‘all means and measures to protect Yemen and deter Houthi aggression’. We have regular engagement with various interlocutors in the Saudi Arabian government. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) spoke to the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Minister of the Interior, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Naif, on 14 July and to the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, Mr Adel Al Jubeir, on 18 July to discuss the humanitarian situation and how best the international community can support the political process. The Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr Fallon), also spoke to the Saudi Arabian Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defence, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on 1 July to discuss Yemen.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Yemeni counterpart on the current conflict in that country since 7 May 2015.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I last spoke to President Hadi on 7 July to underline UK support for a Yemeni-led and UN brokered solution to the conflict. Sir Alan Duncan, the UK’s Special Envoy to Yemen, spoke to Vice President Bahah on 10 July. We remain fully committed seeking a political solution to the current crisis in Yemen and supporting efforts towards improving the dire humanitarian situation.