§ Lord Janner of Braunstoneasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will seek the release by the Iraqi Government of the 600 Kuwaiti hostages seized during the Gulf War. [HL48]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)Her Majesty's Government continue to press Iraq to account for the whereabouts of the 605 Kuwaitis and other nationals missing since the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, in line with its obligations under Security Council resolutions. The UK plays an active role in the Tripartite Commission process, chaired by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which seeks to resolve these cases. That process has, however, been hampered by persistent Iraqi obstruction, demonstrated most recently by Iraq's refusal to attend commission meetings. In addition, Her Majesty's Government support the work of Mr Yuli Vorontsov, the UN Secretary General's High Level Co-ordinator for Kuwaiti missing and property issues.