G7 Summit (Tokyo)

HC Deb 14 July 1993 vol 228 cc966-7

2. Mr. Moss

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the G7 summit in Tokyo.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Douglas Hurd)

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made a statement in the House on Monday. The progress made on trade was especially welcome and the market access package endorsed by the summit provides the much-needed impetus for resuming the multilateral negotiations in Geneva.

Mr. Moss

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it was the British Government's agenda for international economic recovery that found widespread acceptance in Tokyo, as it did in Copenhagen some weeks ago? As Britain is a leading advocate of free trade, does not the enhanced prospect of a successful conclusion to the GATT talks later this year mean good news for the British economy and for British jobs?

Mr. Hurd

My hon. Friend is right. We have pressed that view for a long time. It has proved to be a long road. We do not believe in systems for regional trade—Fortress Europe, Fortress Asia or Fortress North America—which are not good for a world trading country such as ours, so we were encouraged by the success on trade access. We can approach the main GATT negotiations in Geneva with a good deal more optimism than seemed likely a few weeks ago.

Mr. Winnick

What is the use of fine words about Bosnia when, on Monday, 12 people were killed and 15 were seriously injured queuing for water as a result of the action by Serbian war criminals? It should be clear to the Government, and to other western Governments, following the summit, that the Serbians will continue their aggression, their murder and their crimes and atrocities against humanity, as long as they believe that they can get away with it? What on earth is the west going to do about it?

Mr. Hurd

I will talk about that when I answer a later question, but the two immediate needs are to keep people alive by continuing humanitarian supplies—Mrs. Ogata urged that in London on Monday—and to bring the fighting to an end, which will happen only through a negotiated settlement, unless the hon. Member and others in the west are prepared to do something that no one has been prepared to do, which is to send an international expeditionary force to impose a particular solution. No one has suggested that, save one or two Opposition Members. No Government have suggested that. The rhetoric that has done so much harm in the matter has come from exaggerated expectations, leading to exaggerated criticisms.

Mr. Budgen

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the most important outcome of the G7 meeting was that it was plain that the British Government were not going to engage in any military intervention in Bosnia? Was not that a significant demonstration of leadership and choice to the British nation and a rejection of the dangerous and deceitful dream of world government, which the parties of the left in the House enjoyed for at least 100 years? Did not the Government at last demonstrate a true Tory view—that British soldiers should risk their lives only in upholding the British national interest?

Mr. Hurd

My hon. Friend knows that 2,500 British troops are in Bosnia. They are helping to keep people alive. They have so far escorted 950 convoys and 45,700 tonnes of food, mainly to Muslims and Croats. Many Bosnians, of all backgrounds, would have been dead had it not been for the British effort, so I do not entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I think that was, and remains, a thoroughly worthwhile effort. However, I do not believe, and have never used rhetoric that would lead anyone to believe, that it was part of Britain's interests to pretend that we could sort out every man-made disaster in the world, of which there are many at the moment. The United Nations is struggling with great difficulty in places such as Somalia, Iraq—which we have just dealt with—Afghanistan, Angola, Mozambique and Bosnia to do what it can. It is in our interest to do our bit, but we should not over-pretend, or let rhetoric get in the way of reality.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

Did the G7 consider the reports from Iran that it might want to send as many as 17,000 troops to Bosnia? If that were to happen, what would be the response of the western democracies?

Mr. Hurd

It is for the Secretary-General to assess replies to his request for more troops for Bosnia. I am glad that the French are sending more and I hope that other European countries that have been thinking of it will do so. I believe that there is a strong case for having Muslim contingents there. I do not personally think that Iran would be a suitable candidate for that.