HC Deb 13 November 1990 vol 180 cc116-7W
Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are being held with the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on their proposals for a diplomatic solution to the Gulf crisis.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We are in close touch with the Soviet Union on all aspects of the Gulf crises, based on our shared commitment to the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any further trips are planned to Iraq in an effort to secure the release of British hostages.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The declaration issued by the European Council in Rome on 28 October made clear the determination of the Twelve not to send representatives to Baghdad to negotiate with Saddam Hussein over the release of foreign hostages in Iraq and Kuwait. The United Nations Security Council is engaged in this matter and the Twelve have agreed to encourage the United Nations Secretary-General to send a personal representative to Iraq to achieve the immediate departure of all hostages.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are being held with the French Government on their proposals for a diplomatic solution to the Gulf crisis.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We are in close touch with the French Government on all aspects of the Gulf crisis. The basis of our discussions, including those on 27 October between my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Mitterrand, is our shared commitment to the full implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Mr. Corbyn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with France about the methods that it used to achieve the release of French nationals in Kuwait and Iraq.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The French Government have affirmed that the release of the French hostages took placed entirely at Iraqi initiative. The delaration issued by the European Council in Rome on 28 October made clear the determination of the Twelve not to send representatives to Baghdad to negotiate with the Iraqis over the release of foreign hostages in Iraq and Kuwait.

Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the hon. Member for Linlithgow may expect a substantive answer to his letter to the Foreign Secretary relating to a document supposedly found in Kuwait by Iraqi troops concerning the destabilisation of Iraq by fluctuations in oil prices, and subsequent translation from Arabic to English by the Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The hon. Member wrote to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs about this on 9 November. My right hon. Friend replied on 13 November.