Middle East (Hansard, 30 April 1975)

§ Mr. Aitken
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will pay an official visit to the Middle East.

§ Mr. Ennals
My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.

§ Mr. Aitken
Is the Minister aware that the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary is the only Foreign Minister of a major Western country not to have taken the trouble to visit any country in the Middle East either in 1974 or in 1975? Will the Minister try to stir his right hon. Friend out of this diplomatic lethargy, or are we to understand from the Minister's answer to Question No. 3 that the British Government have no intention of making a contribution towards peace making in the Middle East, other than their increasingly doubtful rôle of leaving it entirely to Dr. Kissinger?

§ Mr. Ennals
I certainly would not accept the last part of the hon. Gentleman's question. Her Majesty's Government keep very closely in touch with all the States in the area, not only by 452 diplomatic means but by visits in one direction and another. We have made important representations. I do not accept the hon. Gentleman's conclusions. He will know that my right hon. Friend made a visit to the Middle East only a very short time before he came to office. He has said in the House that he would be prepared to go on a personal visit to the Middle East if it seemed to him, and those with whom he would be in touch, that such a visit would be a helpful initiative. It is not the wish of my right hon. Friend to stand on the sidelines, but there is no point in Britain's seeking to take an initiative unless we can see that it will produce positive results.

§ Mr. Leslie Huckfield
Although that is an acceptable position to take, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that matters such as the reconvening of the Geneva Conference are for the Secretary-General of the United Nations?

§ Mr. Ennals
The question of the Geneva Conference is not a matter for Her Majesty's Government. It has been suggested to us by the Egyptian Government that it would be helpful if the British Government were to take part in the Geneva Conference. We have said that we would seriously consider doing so if all the parties to the Geneva Conference, and their joint chairmen, were to invite us. I agree with my hon. Friend that it is not a matter for a British decision, but Britain is prepared to play its rôle in assisting to bring about a peaceful solution.