HC Deb 20 March 1985 vol 75 cc850-2
Mr. Mikardo

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's meetings with President Mubarak of Egypt.

Mr. Luce

My right hon. Friend's discussions with President Mubarak reflected the excellent state of Anglo-Egyptian relations. They had a full discussion of Arab-Israel peace efforts; the Prime Minister expressed support for the President's efforts, and those of King Hussein, to make progress towards a negotiated settlement. The Prime Minister and the President also expressed serious concern about the situation in Lebanon and in the Sudan.

Mr. Mikardo

I thank the Minister for that reply. This question may be a little unfair, but does he think that there is a realistic expectation of negotiations between Israel and the joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation within the reasonably near future?

Mr. Luce

All I can say is that where there are signs of any constructive efforts to move in that direction, it is our job and obligation as a Government to do all that we can to encourage them. We have noticed what happened in the agreement between King Hussein and Mr. Arafat on 11 February. We have observed with interest the remarks of Prime Minister Peres of Israel, in which he has some favourable comments to make on some of the developments taking place and some of the speeches that are being made from the Arab side. We shall do our utmost to encourage that process.

Mr. Walters

Should the moderate Arab leaders such as President Mubarak and King Hussein fail to persuade the Americans of the need to launch a major peace initiative, will my hon. Friend consider the possibility of a joint Euro-Arab approach to President Reagan to persuade him of the need for an initiative while circumstances remain favourable, like the particularly good arrangements made between King Hussein and Mr. Arafat, and before it is too late?

Mr. Luce

I have carefully noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, which he also made in last Thursday's Adjournment debate. I think that he will know as well as I do the extent of the contact between ourselves and the President of the United States. There have been two meetings between my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and the President in the past three months, including talks on the subject of the middle east, and there has also been extensive contact between distinguished Arab leaders, including President Mubarak and King Fand. The Foreign Minister of Jordan is also in Washington this week. Thus, there is extensive contact. We are also very pleased to support the fact that President Reagan has announced that he is prepared to launch renewed efforts to get peace negotiations going. This week it has been announced that Mr. Murphy will be sent as a special envoy to the middle east to try to get things moving.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

How does the Minister respond to Mr. Mubarak's suggestion that unless there is action on Israel there will be an outbreak of action and extremism by the individual Islamic groups? What does the hon. Gentleman intend to do about that? Does he intend to refer that conversation to the American President and to ask for action on that?

Mr. Luce

I am not sure whether the hon. Gentleman is talking about Israel's actions in the Lebanon, or about the occupied territories. If he is talking about the occupied territories, I must repeat that the British Government take a very strong view in condemning the existence of settlements in the occupied territories. Indeed, we are deeply concerned by the evidence of the economic conditions of those who live in the occupied territories. We have now stepped up the amount of bilateral aid that we are prepared to give to Palestinians living in the occupied territories. We believe that the conditions there and the existence of the settlements are not conducive to peace.

W. Hayes

Among the many important issues that my hon. Friend raised with President Mubarak, did he mention the question of the kidnapping of certain people in Beirut? If so, can he tell us what progress is being made on the possible release of the British national involved, as some information can then be given to his family?

Mr. Luce

Of course we discussed the question of the Lebanon. My hon. Friend will know that on the serious matter of the kidnapping of two British subjects, Mr. Nash and Mr. Levick — about which there is great concern—the Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility. The British ambassador and the British Government are pursuing the issue most vigorously through all possible channels in order to identify where they are and to seek their release. We are also approaching other Governments whom we think may be able to help. We take the kidnappings very seriously. As my hon. Friend knows, the British ambassador has made it plain that we do not feel that British subjects living in west Beirut—numbering about 70—would be wise to stay there in present conditions.

Mr. Anderson

Does the Minister accept that it would have been a serious blow to the peace initiative if President Mubarak had returned home just with a mild rebuke from Washington, and that the Prime Minister's positive response is, therefore, most welome? Is there any serious prospect of us engaging our EEC partners and possibly building on the Venice declaration in respect of the middle east, as that would certainly be welcome to several Arab countries?

Mr. Luce

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his earlier remarks. I reaffirm that we are strongly committed to the two principles of the Venice declaration, because we do not believe that there can be any peace unless the principle of the right of Israel to exist within secure boundaries and the principle of the right of self-determination of the Palestinians are recognised. We are in very close touch with our European partners in the Community. We regard the point made by the hon. Gentleman as a matter of importance, because we think that collectively we can bring some influence to bear.

Mr. Mark Robinson

Does my hon. Friend agree that President Mubarak represents a significant factor in further progress towards peace in the middle east? Will he confirm that during the recent talks the Government encouraged President Mubarak to continue with his endeavours?

Mr. Luce

We listened with great interest to the practical ideas that President Mubarak put forward, which I believe are designed to mesh in with the proposals that King Hussein and Mr. Arafat launched on 11 February. We have already made it plain that we will do everything that we can to encourage that process. We note that President Mubarak and King Hussein are working very closely together, and, indeed, met this week.