Iraq-Iran Conflict (Hansard, 11 June 1984)

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

§ Baroness Young
My Lords, we have taken every suitable opportunity to urge Iran and Iraq to end this wasteful conflict and to settle their differences by peaceful means. Following the recent series of attacks on shipping in the Gulf, we have made efforts both through the European Community and at the United Nations to prevent further escalation and to bring an early end to the conflict. We welcome the acceptance by both sides of the United Nations Secretary General's appeal to stop attacking civilian centres of population.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that I am most grateful for that full and exacting 882 reply, which shows that the endeavours of our Government have been of a very high calibre? However, is she further aware that there is a possibility that this war could spread, that it could engulf the entire Middle East, and that it could have serious repercussions for the rest of the world?

§ Baroness Young
My Lords, as I have already indicated in the reply to the Question which the noble Lord, Lord Molloy, has raised, we view this as a very serious matter.

§ Lord Mayhew
My Lords, will the noble Baroness agree that one of the lessons of Lebanon was that the European countries should have acted together instead of being drawn in one by one and then leaving one by one? First, what action are the Government taking to prevent this happening in the Gulf? Secondly, are the Government proposing to raise this matter at tomorrow's meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Western European Union?

§ Baroness Young
My Lords, as regards the Community, the Ten, including ourselves, delivered messages to the Iranian and Iraq authorities on both 20th and 21st May urging restraint and emphasing the need to preserve freedom of navigation in the Gulf. We were pleased that on 1st June the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution calling on all states to respect, in accordance with international law, the right of freedom of navigation. So far as NATO is concerned, events in the Midldle East do not come under the purview of NATO, but naturally we are in close touch with our main NATO partners over developments in the Gulf. I cannot say whether this matter is an item on the agenda of the Foreign Ministers' consultations tomorrow; but it is naturally a matter which has been discussed and is continually discussed between our own Secretary of State and the Foreign Ministers of the Ten.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, can the noble Baroness tell the House whether any concrete proposals for an initiative on the Iran-Iraq conflict resulted from the Summit meeting? Secondly, can she tell the House whether Her Majesty's Government are concerned about the safety of British tankers in the Gulf? What action is being taken in respect of British oil tankers at the present time? Also, can the noble Baroness say whether British nationals are in any danger in the area?

§ Baroness Young
My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, will know that the Gulf war was discussed at the Summit conference, and we hope of course that a solution to it will be found by diplomatic means. On his specific point about shipping, we issued warnings to British shipping on both 16th and 23rd May about the heightened risks of operating in the upper Gulf. After the first warning the General Council of British shipping announced that the war-risk zone in the upper Gulf had been considerably extended.

§ Lord Mayhew
My Lords, must we take it from the reply of the noble Baroness that there is no understanding between the European members of NATO about intervention or non-intervention in the Gulf or related questions?

§ Baroness Young
My Lords, I believe that it would be premature to talk about any kind of military intervention. We hope and believe that the crisis can be managed by diplomatic means.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, will the noble Baroness acknowledge—as I certainly acknowledge—the endeavours made by our Government to bring a cessation to the hostilities in this appalling war? It seems that the Iranian forces do not even hesitate to use young children. In addition to the danger facing all mankind and in so far as this country is a member of the Security Council, will the noble Baroness give an assurance that, in view of all that has been done up to now, we shall continue our endeavours, both at the United Nations and in the EEC, in a more robust manner?

§ Baroness Young
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Molloy, for his remarks. We shall of course support any serious attempt at mediation aimed at ending the conflict between Iran and Iraq, especially through the good office of the Secretary General of the United Nations. However, there is still no sign that the Iranians are ready to accept offers to negotiate a peaceful settlement.