HL Deb 01 December 1997 vol 583 cc142-3WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether as a Permanent Member of the Security Council, the United Kingdom has considered the Turkish military action in northern Iraq against the forces of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and the reaction to these operations by the Arab world and Iran; and whether they will invite the Security Council to determine, under Article 39, the existence of any threat to peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression which may have arisen, and to make recommendations or decide what measures shall be taken in accordance with Articles 41 and 42 to maintain or restore international peace and security.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Deanm

We have told the Turkish government that the involvement of its forces in the Kurdish inter-factional fighting in northern Iraq is not compatible with its role as co-sponsor of the Ankara reconciliation process. We have no current plans to raise this in the Security Council.

A renewed UK/US brokered cease-fire between the two Kurdish parties was established on 24 November.