§ Lord Molloy asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they will seek to initiate a debate in the United Nations on the Middle East peace negotiations.
The Minister of State, Department of Transport (The Earl of Caithness)My Lords, the peace process launched at Madrid under US and Russian co-sponsorship offers the best chance of reaching a just, lasting and comprehensive solution to the problem of the Middle East on the basis of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. The United Nations Security Council may have a role to play in endorsing agreements reached.
§ Lord MolloyMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. He is replying on behalf of his noble friend who represents the Foreign Office and he carries out good work on behalf of two departments. I remind the Minister that Mr. Warren Christopher, the United States Secretary of State, has said recently that there now seems to be a good chance for peace between Israel and many of the Arab states, particularly the Syrians. There is still bitterness on the part of the Arabs who were ejected from Israel when that state was created by the United Nations. Those Arabs still regard the land from which they were ejected as their land. I am quite sure that, if we had lost the Second World War and this island had been declared German, I would have objected to that. I ask the Minister to accept that the United Nations is a strong ally of ours but that the United Kingdom also has an important role to play in this matter.
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, the noble Lord is right to remind the House that Secretary of State Christopher made a visit to the region. As a result of that he met his Russian counterpart and the co-sponsors have now announced that they will issue invitations to a further round of talks in Washington in April. We are urging all the parties to accept the invitations. We are playing an important part in that matter.
§ Baroness BlackstoneMy Lords, given that one of the major stumbling blocks to the progress of the peace talks is the deplorable action of the Government of Israel in deporting 400 men, will the Minister tell the House what steps the Government are taking, with their EC partners and in the context of the UN, to secure the return of the 400 deportees?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, we welcome the Israeli recognition last month of the need to address the Security Council's concern, that is Security Council Resolution 799. We hope that the Israelis will build on what they have achieved towards compliance with that resolution and that the peace process will continue.