Asked by: Guto Bebb (Independent - Aberconwy)
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 Iran's compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1835.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We assess that Iran has breached its obligations under UNSCRs 1835 and 1929 respectively by attempting to ship arms to a third country in March 2014 and by testing ballistic missiles in January 2013. We continue to call on Iran to comply with its international obligations; and for UN members to enforce the UN sanctions regime.Asked by: Guto Bebb (Independent - Aberconwy)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of Iran's compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1929.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We assess that Iran has breached its obligations under UNSCRs 1835 and 1929 respectively by attempting to ship arms to a third country in March 2014 and by testing ballistic missiles in January 2013. We continue to call on Iran to comply with its international obligations; and for UN members to enforce the UN sanctions regime.Asked by: Guto Bebb (Independent - Aberconwy)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the draft UN resolution calling on Israel to withdraw to the 1967 borders by 2016.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are clear that only a negotiated two state solution based on 1967 borders will resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict once and for all. We share the sense of urgency for a two state solution that delivers an end to the occupation and we are looking carefully at the initiative the Palestinians have laid out. We will continue to engage key partners to consider how best to support the parties in resuming serious dialogue, as we know from past experience that deadlines are no substitute for the political will needed to achieve a negotiated dialogue.
Asked by: Guto Bebb (Independent - Aberconwy)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of recent reports of a large explosion at Parchin military complex in Iran.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
As reported in the media, there was an explosion and consequent fire at the Parchin military complex, outside of Tehran in early October 2014. The explosion was not in the area of the high explosive test facility at Parchin referred to in IAEA Board of Governors’ reports. Permission for IAEA inspectors to access facilities at Parchin as required remains necessary to address international concerns about the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Asked by: Guto Bebb (Independent - Aberconwy)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2014 to Question 211909, what was the outcome of his meeting with the Pakistan High Commissioner on 28 October 2014.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
On 28 October, I had a productive introductory meeting with the newly-appointed Pakistan High Commissioner. Among the bilateral issues that I raised was our concern about Pakistan’s blasphemy laws and about the Asia Bibi case. The High Commissioner was left in no doubt about how seriously we take this issue. We will continue to raise our concerns at the highest levels and to press for progress.
Asked by: Guto Bebb (Independent - Aberconwy)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the consequences of President Abbas' statement that the temporary closure of Temple Mount was a declaration of war.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
We are deeply concerned by increased tensions and violence around the Temple Mount/Haram al Sharif. We believe it is vital that the longstanding status quo is preserved. We encourage all parties and leaders to take actions and use words which will encourage calm and decrease tensions.
Asked by: Guto Bebb (Independent - Aberconwy)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether Iran's support for international terror groups has been raised in talks between Iran and the P5+1.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
E3+3 negotiations with Iran focus purely on the nuclear issue. Iran’s support for designated terrorist groups such as the military wings of Hizballah and Hamas, as well as other militant groups across the Middle East, do not form part of E3+3 discussions with Iran, although they may be discussed bilaterally in the margins between individual E3+3 members and Iran.
Asked by: Guto Bebb (Independent - Aberconwy)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with government officials in Pakistan on the allegations made against Aasia Bibi.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
I am concerned to hear that a Pakistan court has upheld the imposition of the death penalty in the case of Asia Bibi. We support the EU’s recent statement on her case and hope that the verdict will be overturned on appeal. We regularly raise at the highest levels the misuse of blasphemy laws against both Muslims and religious minorities. Most recently, I raised this with the Pakistan High Commissioner on 28 October. We will ensure that these issues continue to be raised at the highest levels in Pakistan and we will continue to express our concerns about such cases.
Asked by: Guto Bebb (Independent - Aberconwy)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to address the number of executions by beheading in Saudi Arabia.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
Ministers, our Ambassador, and the Embassy team raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the European Union. While we are fully committed to global abolition, we must recognise that the total abolition of the death penalty is unlikely in Saudi Arabia in the near future. For now, our focus is on the introduction of EU minimum standards for the death penalty as a first step, and supporting access to justice and rule of law.
Asked by: Guto Bebb (Independent - Aberconwy)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received on the three Israeli teenagers kidnapped in the West Bank on 12 June 2014; and what steps he has taken to secure their release.
Answered by Hugh Robertson
I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 26 June 2014 (Official Report, column 258W).