§ Mr. Nelsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the visit of the Minister of State the hon. Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce) to the Gulf earlier in the current month with particular reference to the progress made in bilateral commission talks with the sultanate of Oman and the issues discussed.
§ Mr. LuceI visited Bahrain and Oman from 9 to 17 January. In Bahrain I held discussions on bilateral and regional matters with His Highness the Amir, and with102W leading Bahraini Ministers. I also attended an informal conference of British ambassadors serving in the Gulf region.
In Oman I called on His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and met a number of other senior Omani personalities. I also led the British delegation to the third meeting of the United Kingdom-Oman joint commission. My discussions provided the opportunity for useful exchanges of view on international defence questions, the regional situation, Arab-Israel, Lebanon, and East-West relations. I was also able to discuss in some detail our co-operation in several areas of practical importance, including education, health and civil administration.
Our bilateral relations with Oman, which are of long standing, are excellent. We will work to maintain and improve the relationship, and welcome the recent formation of an Anglo-Omani parliamentary group as a contribution to even closer understanding and friendship between our two countries.