§ 2.56 p.m.
§ Lord Wallace of SaltaireMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Avebury, and at his request. I beg leave to ask Her Majesty's Government the following Question:
What they will do, while they hold the presidency of the European Union, to persuade Algeria to facilitate an investigation by the United Nations Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary and Summary Executions, M. Bacre Waly Ndiaye, into the massacres in Algeria.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, the troika mission to Algiers on 19th and 20th January, led by my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Derek Fatchett, urged the Algerian Government to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary and Summary Executions to visit Algeria. We regret that the Algerian Government were not ready to do so. The mission encouraged Algeria to adopt more openness and transparency which can only be in the Algerian Government's own interest.
§ Lord Wallace of SaltaireMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Does she agree that the European Union is unavoidably involved in the Algerian security situation since, in the event of a further breakdown of order in Algeria, a flood of refugees would seek to enter the European Union? Does the Minister still hold to the statement given by the Foreign Secretary to the European Parliament on 14th January that we have so far seen no evidence to support allegations of involvement in these matters by the Algerian security authorities?
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are aware of those allegations. However, the noble Lord is quite right. As yet we have no definitive evidence of such involvement from the Algerian Government. Dialogue between the EU and Algeria will continue. During our presidency, the UK will repeat encouragement to openness and transparency. Indeed even today, Foreign Ministers are discussing the troika report and the way forward at the General Affairs Council in Brussels under the leadership of my honourable friend Mr. Fatchett.
Lord Bruce of DoningtonMy Lords. do the Government consider that France has any particular responsibility for the affairs of Algeria bearing in mind their long history together and the times—I remember them in Paris—when the cries were, "Algèrie française"?
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, apportioning blame in the way that my noble friend 9 urges me to do is not helpful to the situation in Algeria. The UK continues to deplore and condemn the appalling violence that we have seen in Algeria. As the EU president, we registered the European Union's sympathy and concern with the fate of the people of Algeria; and we shall continue to do so throughout our presidency through the dialogue which I have described.
§ Lord MoynihanMy Lords, does the Minister agree that the troika mission found out more about diplomatic sensibilities than co-ordinated action to help resolve one of Africa's most bloody civil conflicts? As a constructive step to combat the violence which is clearly causing human misery on an appalling scale in Algeria, has the Foreign Secretary offered the Government of Algeria the assistance of the directory of counter terrorist expertise set up by the G7 to enable expert help to be made available immediately to countries which need it?
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, the mission achieved much of what it set out to achieve—to express the concern of the European Union and its member states at the situation in Algeria, and to continue the political dialogue between the European Union and Algeria about the position in that unhappy country at present. The objective was not to undertake any investigation but to establish the framework for future dialogue to which the British Government and the EU are committed. We also wanted to maintain the impetus of the dialogue. The British Government have therefore invited the Algerian Foreign Minister, Mr. Attaf, to visit the UK during our presidency. I am happy to say that Mr. Attaf has accepted that invitation in principle.
We have spoken to the Algerian Government about the claims they make about terrorism abroad. We have asked them to give us their advice on how we may better help over these issues. We look forward to their response.
§ Lord Renfrew of KaimsthornMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Bruce. referred to one French slogan. Does the Minister recall another, pronounced at the same time, "Le fascisme ne passera pas?" Is it not time that the European Communities and Britain encouraged the Algerian Government to hold free elections and then to implement the results?
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, the Algerian Government have made some progress on this issue. We continue to press them to hold the free elections to which the noble Lord refers. We are also trying to encourage the Algerians in their democratic approach through a number of other means. Notably, a delegation of women members from the Algerian parliament is to come to this country next month. We have also urged the Algerians to grant better access to journalists so that there may be more freedom and transparency in the reporting of what is really happening in Algeria at the moment.
§ The Earl of Winchilsea and NottinghamMy Lords, is the Minister aware that, as far back as 1993, the Algerian Government invited the UN Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary and Summary Executions to Algeria, but because of conflicting schedules he was 10 unable to attend? This is a matter that Algeria is perfectly willing to discuss but within the framework of the regular meetings it has with the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanMy Lords, the noble Earl is right to remind us of that point. The Algerian Government were not prepared to receive special rapporteurs before the annual commission on human rights, which will take place in Geneva in March and April. We shall continue to urge Algeria to adopt a much more open and transparent approach; and we will maintain our encouragement of allowing a visit by UN special rapporteurs which can only be to the advantage of the government. As the mission pointed out during the talks, openness and transparency are crucial if public suspicions are to be lifted.
§ Lord Wallace of SaltaireMy Lords, can the Minister give the House any information as to whether the European Union is willing to use its economic relationship with Algeria as a source of sanctions if the situation worsens? Algeria, after all, has a very important economic relationship with the European Union.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanNo, my Lords, I have no further information on that point. I suggest that if the noble Lord wishes to examine the issue further he should either write to me or raise it in the form of a Question after we have the benefit of hearing what happened at the GAC today.