§ 6. Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further consultations he has had with the Syrian authorities regarding their failure to comply with the Geneva Convention by releasing particulars of Israeli prisoners of war held by them.
§ Lord BalnielI have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend told the House on 21st January.—[Vol. 867, c. 1206–7.]
§ Mr. JannerIs the Minister aware that for more than three months a considerable number of parents, children and other relatives, including wives, have been waiting to hear whether prisoners are alive or dead? Cannot he add something by way of unequivocal condemnation of the Syrians' continued refusal at least to issue the lists of the prisoners they hold?
§ Lord BalnielWe have made representations on a number of occasions to Syria that we believe that the prisoners should be returned. I hope that arrangements can now be agreed between Syria and Israel which will include a solution to this problem, but I think that bilateral representations made in the context of disengagement between Israel and Syria are more likely to be effective than representations made from outside. That is what I believe is the most constructive way forward
§ Sir R. CaryCan my right hon. Friend state the number of Israeli prisoners in Syrian hands?
§ Lord BalnielNo, Sir. I am not in a position to do so.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsBut surely the right hon. Gentleman will confirm that the Israelis have observed Article 8 and all the other articles of the 1930 Convention. Will he, additionally, assure the House that he will convey to the Syrian Government the unanimous feeling in the House and the country that they should observe Article 8 and the other articles? Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it might be useful to approach one of the original signatories to the 1930 Convention, namely Egypt, with a view to enlisting her support in any approaches which we ourselves make bilaterally to Syria?
§ Lord BalnielAs I have said, we have made it clear to the Israeli and Syrian Governments that we believe that all the Geneva Conventions should be complied with. The difficulty is that the Syrians have declined to provide lists and allow the Red Cross access except in return for action by Israel, especially in connection with the Geneva Convention on civilians. We believe that all the Geneva Conventions should be applied and that they should not be attached to other conditions.
§ Mr. GorstWill my right hon. Friend be a little more specific? Does he not agree that the situation with regard to the Syrian Government is totally unsatisfactory?
§ Lord BalnielAs I have said, we believe that the Geneva Convention should be complied with without any conditions being attached to it. We hope that that view will be followed.
§ Mr. MayhewHas the Minister seen the report of the Red Cross which rightly criticised both the Syrians and the Israelis for breaches of the Geneva Convention? Why has he made strong and repeated protests to the Syrians but not to the Israeli authorities?
§ Lord BalnielWe have made representations to all Governments concerned. We believe that the Geneva Convention should be applied. I do not think it is right to try to discriminate between one and the other. We believe that the Geneva Convention should be applied.