HC Deb 25 October 1995 vol 264 cc999-1001
1. Mr. Ernie Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process. [36852]

6. Mr. Gerrard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments in the middle east peace process. [36857]

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Malcolm Rifkind)

We warmly welcome the signing on 28 September of the interim agreement concluded between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation. We look forward to the Palestinian elections, which are due to take place in the next few months. I shall visit the region early next month, which will give me the opportunity to emphasise Britain's strong political and practical support for the peace process.

Mr. Ross

I welcome the Secretary of State to his new position. I look forward to his contribution to the middle east peace process. I am sure that he would wish to join me in welcoming the start of the withdrawal of the Israeli defence forces from Jenin today, which is a sign of good will, but will he also join me in condemning the decision by the United States Congress to attempt to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which is in direct contravention of international law and the prohibition contained in United Nations Security Council resolution 242 on the acquisition of territory by force?

Will the Secretary of State also, however, welcome the decision by the President of the United States to delay the implementation of that in order to help the peace process—

Madam Speaker

Order. Questions are getting enormously long, especially for the first one. We ought to get off to a better start than that.

Mr. Rifkind

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his words of welcome. I also appreciate the beginning of the withdrawal by the Israeli forces from the west bank. As far as the position of the US Congress is concerned, we believe that that is an unhelpful development at this stage and we are pleased that the United States Administration has dissociated itself from it.

Mr. Gerrard

Does the Minister agree that, having signed a peace treaty with Israel, in a country such as Jordan continued support for the peace process depends on ordinary people noticing clear benefits, including economic benefits, from peace? Does he accept that Jordan suffers from an exceptional burden of foreign debt, which inhibits attempts to develop the economy? What steps would the Government be prepared to take to help reduce that burden?

Mr. Rifkind

I do, indeed, recognise that problem. We have already forgiven all aid debt and we were also happy to help at the last Paris Club rescheduling of Jordan's debt. We have a £4 million per annum bilateral aid programme focusing on education and telecommunications. I do recognise that there are important objectives in helping the Jordanian economy. The United Kingdom is playing a substantial part in that process.

Mr. John Marshall

I congratulate my right. hon. and learned Friend on his promotion and on his decision to go to the middle east in person. Does he agree that it is somewhat anomalous that Israel, which is the only democracy in the middle east, has yet to receive a royal visit? Can he give us an assurance that one may be quite imminent?

Mr. Rifkind

In the past year there has, of course, been a visit to Israel by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh in a personal capacity. Naturally, royal visits are important issues and they are considered with regard to all the implications. I am sure that the continuing improvement in the overall climate in the middle east will make high-level visits to Israel continue to improve in the years to come.

Mr. Batiste

Does my right hon. and learned Friend consider that, at this stage in the peace process, the winding up of the Arab boycott office would be a sensible step forward? Will he make representations to that effect to Arab Governments?

Mr. Rifkind

Yes, I very much agree with my hon. Friend, and I believe that the boycott is already withering on the vine. It would highly beneficial if it were to be completely terminated, and that is increasingly the view of many Arab countries in the region as well.

Mrs. Jane Kennedy

When the Secretary of State visits the middle east shortly, will he try to seek a meeting with President Assad of Syria? If he is able to secure such a meeting, will he press the Syrians to enter the peace process, as that could be the most significant thing to assist the process?

Mr. Rifkind

I hope to be in Damascus during my visit to the middle east, and I agree with the hon. Lady that it would be very beneficial if Syria were to approach the peace process in a constructive and forward-looking way. There have been some modest signs of progress on that front, although we appreciate the difficulties and sensitivities involved. But I believe that Syria is virtually the last of the building blocks to be put in place to help to achieve a comprehensive peace in the middle east. Therefore, the British Government would very much wish to encourage Syria's involvement.

Mr. Mark Robinson

Can my right hon. and learned Friend describe the nature of the assistance that the Government are providing to the Palestinian community?

Mr. Rifkind

We are giving substantial cash help towards the Palestinians in Gaza and elsewhere, and we have also indicated a willingness to assist in the elections which are to take place in Gaza and in the election of Palestinian representatives. An EU-led group of observers will go to the middle east, and the United Kingdom will play an important part in that process.

Mr. Fatchett

May I, from this side of the House, offer my congratulations to Chairman Arafat and to Prime Minister Rabin on continuing the peace progress in the middle east and on this morning's developments? Does the Foreign Secretary agree that if the peace process is to be successful, both the Israelis and the Palestinians must experience real advantages—security for the Israelis and self-determination and prosperity for the Palestinians? On the latter point, will the Foreign Secretary indicate what further international efforts are being made to spread and speed up the flow of development aid, both to Gaza and to the west bank?

Mr. Rifkind

May I first congratulate the hon. Gentleman on the assumption of his new shadow responsibilities? I very much agree with the view that there must be clear benefits to both Israel and the Palestinians from the peace process, and I suggest that that is already happening in various ways in the middle east. Israel is increasing its links with the Arab countries and is becoming a normal country in the region, while the Palestinians are beginning to realise many of their aspirations. The international community can help in that process, particularly in the economic field.