HC Deb 25 April 1984 vol 58 cc717-8
8. Mr. Douglas

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future intitiatives he intends taking with European Economic Community partners in connection with seeking a peaceful solution to the situation in the Lebanon.

Mr. Luce

In their statement of 27 March Foreign Ministers of the Ten reaffirmed their hope for progress towards reconciliation in Lebanon and their support for the early withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanese territory. The initiative for making progress towards both these objectives lies first with the Lebanese parties, but we shall continue to work with them and others to help restore peace and stability in Lebanon.

Mr. Douglas

Will the Minister accept that, while both the Soviet Union and the United States have interests in the area, one of the difficulties is that the two power blocs are irresolute in the pursuit of those interests, and that perhaps what is needed there is for a third party to come in, with the agreement of each side in the dispute, to try to reconcile them?

Mr. Luce

It is very important for the internal parties and the immediate external parties concerned to see whether they can resolve the problem themselves. It is disappointing that the Lausanne conference did not succeed, but I think that any ultimate agreement that is reached can succeed only if all the parties concerned in the matter—above all, the internal parties—find a way of reconciling their differences.

On 27 March the European Community issued a strong statement of support for reconciliation and for the withdrawal of external forces, and we shall all work very hard to support that objective.

Mr. Marlow

In their thoughts about the situation in the Lebanon, did the Foreign Ministers accept that there is a difference between the status of the Israeli forces in the Lebanon, who got there through military adventurism and unprovoked invasion, and the Syrian forces, who were invited to be there? The difference in status is very important to the consideration of the issue.

Mr. Luce

It is important for all external forces to withdraw. That is the most important aspect of the whole problem. It is also important for the internal parties to the conflict to resolve their differences. It is, of course, the case that the external parties concerned came in on different bases and at different stages, but the most important thing to concentrate upon is the withdrawal of all foreign forces.