Dahuk: Electricity Supply (Hansard, 24 January 1994)

§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)
My Lords, we remain concerned at the plight of civilians in Dahuk. We, France, Russia and the United States made a dè marche to the Iraqi Government on 5th January at the United Nations, protesting about Iraq's continued repression of the civilian population. The dè marche called on Iraq to restore the electricity supply to the Dahuk governate. We will continue to press Iraq to fulfil this and all other obligations under Security Council resolutions.

§ Lord Archer of Weston-Super-Mare
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that reply. May I remind her that Dahuk, a city of some 700,000 people, has been without electricity for five months and 10 days? It is a city 10 times the size of Glasgow Hillhead. Will the Foreign Office be kind enough to advise parliamentarians visiting Baghdad not to salute Saddam Hussein for his courage but to tell him to turn the lights on in Dahuk and save Kurdish lives?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, the British Government are deeply concerned about the lack of electricity supplies to Dahuk. I believe that it was more effective when we, together with other permanent members of the Security Council, made a very strong protest to the Iraqis. However, I am not hopeful that the supplies will be resumed by the Iraqis. We have also 805 taken action with the Turkish Government. I understand that the Turks have now discussed the issue with Iraq. I hope very much that the Turks will be willing to supply electricity from across the border to the people of Dahuk, who, quite apart from their other needs, deserve it. We have to work at it. I believe that that is the best way forward.

§ Lord Mellish
My Lords, does the Minister agree that this is surely a story of antipathy—if that is the right word—towards Saddam Hussein and all that he stands for and represents? I believe that I speak for everyone in this House when I suggest that it is about time France, America and ourselves said to Saddam Hussein, "Put that electricity back or else!"

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I believe I heard my noble and learned friend Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone and others say sotto voce, "What else can be done?" The responsibility for the suffering lies with Saddam Hussein. But who can force the man to do what my noble friend Lord Archer asked? The people of Dahuk need the electricity. Perhaps we can find another way to provide it. At the same time we shall not cease to seek to bring Saddam Hussein's iniquities to the notice of all, including Members of another place.

§ Lord Kilbracken
My Lords, is the Minister aware that cutting off the electricity in Dahuk is a minor example of the terrible maltreatment of the Kurds throughout Iraq?

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, the noble Lord is right. Compared with what has happened so far as the people in southern Iraq are concerned —the marsh Arabs—and what has happened to the Kurds in northern Iraq, it is perhaps a lesser evil. But there is no doubt that if the people of Dahuk had electricity, a lot of their other problems would pale into insignificance because they might then have clean water. Clean water is the basis of better health for all those people.

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, will the Minister accept that we on these Benches entirely dissociate ourselves from the visit made by the honourable Member for Glasgow Hillhead to Iraq and from the rather foolish remarks he made in his interview with Saddam Hussein? However, can the Minister tell the House what happened to the report by UNSCOM which is investigating the use of chemical warfare against the Shia Moslems in southern Iraq? It is some time since that investigation was initiated. We have as yet had no results.

§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey
My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her initial remarks. With regard to the investigative report on the use of chemical weapons on the marsh Arabs, the initial evidence shows no immediate grounds for believing that chemical weapons have been used. The detailed evidence is still being worked upon.