HC Deb 21 January 1987 vol 108 cc878-80
6. Mr. Jackson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress made during Britian's presidency of the European Community in promoting the Community's position in international affairs.

7. Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European Community partners concerning the development of common European foreign policies.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

The Twelve spoke and acted together on a wide range of international issues during the British presidency. Significant achievements during the period included: common action against Syria's involvement in terrorism, which I announced on 10 November; active co-operation on East-West issues, in particular, in achieving the successful outcome of the Stockholm Conference; and a common position on South Africa based on promoting peaceful change through national dialogue. A fuller list of presidency achievements has been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Jackson

My right hon. and learned Friend knows well that Conservative Members appreciate the success of the British presidency and, notably, the contribution of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Is he satisfied that the European voice is being heard with sufficient clarity and weight in the great debate about arms control between the United States and the Soviet Union?

Sir Geoffrey Howe

The answer to that is yes. The Community voice speaks on defence issues outside its constitution, but it speaks on security questions, including arms control aspects of that through political co-operation and, beyond that, through the participation of 11 of 12 members in the councils of NATO. In all those ways, not least through the contribution made by the United Kingdom, the voice of the Community on these important questions is being heard loud and clear.

Mr. Knox

Will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that greater co-operation within the Community on foreign affairs remains the Government's principal foreign policy objective?

Sir Geoffrey Howe

Yes, I can confirm that. On a large range of issues the position that we wish to make clear and assert is likely to be more effectively asserted and maintained by presenting it in a Community context.

Mr. Ernie Ross

Will the Foreign Secretary tell us what successes the European Community has had in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict?

Sir Geoffrey Howe

I do not think that the European Community has been more successful than any of the other parties concerned with that tragic conflict, which has continued for many years. We have certainly been applying our attention to measures that can improve the situation. It was as a result of a British initiative during the British presidency that the Community adopted measures to enhance Community aid and Community trade access for those living in the occupied territories on the West Bank.

Mr. Deakins

Have any of the anodyne statements made by the EEC in recent years under the heading of political co-operation led to the resolution of any international problem?

Sir Geoffrey Howe

To take one example to which we have been referring, the position adopted by the Community on the Arab-Israeli dispute, as set out in the Venice declaration, has represented a continuing lodestone of guidance for the many who have tried to advance the position. It has been a significant and sustained contribution.

Mr. Walters

I recognise the advances on many issues which have taken place during my right hon. and learned Friend's presidency, but the progress in the middle east has been disappointing. Will he take the opportunity of Mr. Peres's visit to reaffirm that British policy and European policy have not changed, that we appreciate that there cannot be a settlement in the middle east without recognising Palestinian rights, and that the continuing Israeli occupation of the West Bank is illegal?

Sir Geoffrey Howe

I shall certainly be taking the opportunity of discussing these matters with Foreign Minister Peres during his visit to London, on the basis of the well-established principles of the right of the state of Israel to secure a peaceful existence and the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and proper representation in any discussion of the future.

Mr. Healey

In the right hon. and learned Gentleman's new capacity as a pedler of lodestones of guidance, does he believe that it would be wise for the Community to take a much more public and consistent line on the major issues of arms control that are now under discussion between the United States and the Soviet Union? Can he explain why the Prime Minister did not follow Chancellor Kohl's lead in deploring President Reagan's decision to violate the SALT 2 agreement and welcoming Mr. Gorbachev's decision not to follow President Reagan's lead?

Secondly, on the strategic defence initiative, on which I believe the European countries have a consistent and common view that is very different from that of the present American Administration, can the right hon. and learned Gentleman allay some of the disquiet that is felt on the Opposition Benches and elsewhere at the Prime Minister's recent retreat from her initial agreement at Camp David on SDI with President Reagan? Can he say that Her Majesty's Government unequivocally expect the United States to observe the ABM treaty in its pursuit of its star wars initiative in the restricted interpretation which has been endorsed by those who negotiated the treaty in the United States?

Thirdly—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long".] These are possibly the most important issues which this or any other Government are likely to face over the next few years. Thirdly, will the right hon. and learned Gentleman seek an agreement with his Community colleagues to take an initiative towards achieving agreement on a comprehensive ban on nuclear tests by seeking an agreement which, by stages, would progressively limit the yield and frequency of such tests?

Sir Geoffrey Howe

The right hon. Gentleman has resorted—understandably, and I make no criticism—to asking a question about arms control as an earlier question was not asked.

Mr. Healey

Where was the alliance spokesman when he should have asked his question?

Sir Geoffrey Howe

The right hon. Gentleman and I are on common ground.

With regard to progress on SALT 2, the Prime Minister confirmed to the House on 18 November last that, in our judgment, the SALT agreement should continue to be observed by both sides. That remains our decision.

With regard to SDI, one of the components of the first Camp David agreement is that that programme should be pursued in accordance with the provisions of the ABM treaty. United States policy is that the broad interpretation is justified. However, SDI research is being continued within the restricted interpretation, and that should be welcomed.

On the right hon. Gentleman's last point about the test ban treaty, we welcome the specific progress made at Reykjavik, which provided, in our judgment rather hopefully, for a phased approach to nuclear tests. That was consistent with our policy. That approach will start with the threshold test ban treaty and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy treaty and beyond that to the remaining stages on verification issues. That is how such progress should be made.

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