§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what efforts they are currently making to seek a just and peaceful solution to the problems of the Middle East.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)My Lords, we are ready to support constructive moves by the parties directly concerned towards negotiated solutions of the area's problems. Together with our partners in the Ten we intend to remain active on the basis of our well-known balanced approach.
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, may I thank the noble Baroness for, and congratulate her on, that reply? Would she not agree that it is now very urgent indeed that Britain throws her weight quite openly behind Iraq in trying to end the appalling situation there? Is she further aware that the admirable endeavours of the British Foreign Secretary to try and guarantee safety for all the lands in the Middle East, Israel and the Arab states, and his remarks that that can only ultimately be achieved when the settlements are given back to their rightful owners, will help enormously in trying to achieve peace?
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, I agree that there is an urgent need for early progress, and we shall remain active and ready to support initiatives by the parties.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, can the noble Baroness say whether she has any information about the latest intentions of the Israeli Government to withdraw Israeli troops to the Litani River? Are Her Majesty's Government in favour of this move? Will she recall the visit of her right honourable and learned friend the Foreign Secretary to the Middle East in October when he said that he would personally do all he could to advance the cause of peace in the area? That is something which we warmly support. Is she able to say whether any initiatives have been taken by him since then?
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, I understand that the Israeli Government want an early withdrawal from Lebanon and so indeed do the Lebanese; but there is need for agreement between the parties on security arrangements. On the second part of the noble Lord's question, I do not think that I have anything further to add to what I have already said in answer to the original question.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, has the noble Baroness any information about the latest intentions of the Israeli Government to withdraw unilaterally to the Litani River in the light of the breakdown of the recent talks?
§ Baroness YoungYes, my Lords, the Israeli Government do want an early withdrawal. We hope in fact that we shall achieve success under the military talks now taking place at Naqoura, and where Mr. Brian Urquhart, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General, is visiting the area.
§ Lord GladwynMy Lords, if I understand the position correctly, there are certain indications in the press this morning that the Americans and the Russians might conceivably be getting together to talk about Middle Eastern questions. If that proves to be true, will the Government do everything possible to foster such an initiative which may well be the hope of the future?
§ Baroness YoungYes, my Lords. We believe that the United States has a crucial role to play, and we are glad that at the 1984 United Nations General Assembly President Reagan confirmed his proposals of 1st September 1982.
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, would the noble Baroness not agree that if the United States of America were to move considerably closer to the admirable viewpoint expressed by the British Foreign Secretary, that too would make a magnificent contribution to easing the situation in the Middle East and the establishment of a just and honourable peace?
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, I am glad to hear the tribute paid to my right honourable and learned friend the Secretary of State who has done what he can to help a settlement in the Middle East. I confirm that we believe that the United States has a crucial role to play in any settlement.
§ Lord MayhewMy Lords, can the noble Baroness confirm that the Government still support the principle of the Venice Declaration—in particular the recognition of Israel by the Arabs—and on the other hand self-determination for the Palestinians on the West Bank, and the participation of the PLO in peace negotiations?
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, I can confirm that we still support the Venice Declaration; and that was what was implied when I said that we supported a balanced approach to the problem.
§ Lord TordoffMy Lords, in reply to my noble friend, the noble Baroness indicated that the Government supported the United States involvement in this matter; but she gave no indication of her views on the involvement of the Soviet Union, which was the subject of part of my noble friend's question.
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, I think it is recognised that it is crucial that there should be the involvement of the United States in any solution in the Middle East.
§ Lord TordoffMy Lords, I am sorry to press the noble Baroness, but the specific question was: what was her view on the involvement of the Soviet Union in that process as well?
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, the Soviet Union, too, clearly has an interest in peace in the Middle East.
§ The Earl of OnslowMy Lords, is the subject of this question not so wide and so varied that it would be much more suitable for a debate than for it to be discussed at Question Time, when one is trying to extract information from Her Majesty's Government? It is a much more suitable subject for a 2½ hour debate.
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, I should like to thank my noble friend for his supplementary question. It is a very wide subject.