HC Deb 04 May 1994 vol 242 cc717-8
16. Mr. Bendall

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for a forthcoming visit to the middle east to discuss the peace process.

Mr. Hurd

I have no such plans at present.

Mr. Bendall

In view of the remarks that my right hon. Friend made about a review of the Israeli arms embargo, may I ask him what time scale would possibly be in mind? Clearly, to take off the embargo, which the other European countries would also do, would help British exports and British jobs.

Mr. Hurd

As I said earlier, the timing will depend on progress down the Lebanese track of the process because that was the reason for the measure in the first place.

Mr. Gunnell

Does the Foreign Secretary agree that the agreement that we have welcomed today is really the beginning of a peace process in the sense that it represents the first fruits of the discussions? Will he make it clear that we expect that those discussions will go forward and bring other rewards and, indeed, that the behaviour of people in the territories that have self-rule will to some extent depend on whether there is movement forward? Will the Foreign Secretary spell out the things he hopes that the peace talks will achieve next?

Mr. Hurd

There are three remaining tracks. There is the Syrian track, on which the American Secretary of State is seeking to make progress now, and I warmly support what he is doing between Tel Aviv and Damascus. There is the Jordanian track, in which there is a problem of frontiers and other practical matters, and we are in close touch with the King and the Israelis about that. Then there is the Lebanese track. Progress is needed on all of them.

Mr. Batiste

What impression has my right hon. Friend formed of the intentions of the Syrian Government with regard to reaching a peace treaty with Israel, and in relation to Lebanon?

Mr. Hurd

The Syrians say that they want total Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights. The Israelis say that they want total peace with Syria. The discussions turn on how one defines and, indeed, how one times total withdrawal and total peace. That is what the American Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, is trying to elucidate.

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