Kurds (Hansard, 25 June 1991)

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what military equipment will be deployed by the United Nations forces to protect the Kurds in northern Iraq.
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§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The UN security guards will be equipped to carry out their mandate.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guarantees of protection have been provided by Her Majesty's Government to the Kurdish population of northern Iraq.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We have made it clear publicly and to the Kurdish leadership that the deployment of allied forces in northern Iraq was intended as a temporary measure to meet an urgent and overwhelming humanitarian need. We have also made clear that it is our intention to withdraw our forces from Iraq in conditions which will encourage those living in the areas of northern Iraq at present under the control of allied forces to remain.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guarantees of protection were offered by Her Majesty's Government to Kurdish refugees to encourage them to come down from the mountainous regions of northern Iraq.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Allied forces were deployed to northern Iraq to encourage the refugees to come down from the mountains to places where humanitarian relief could be provided effectively and in safety. The operation has succeeded in that objective.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has as to the presence of Iraqi Government agents in the camps of the Kurdish people currently under the protection of United Kingdom forces.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We are aware of reports that Iraqi Government agents may be present in the area of northern Iraq presently controlled by the allied forces.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many military personnel will comprise the United Nations force envisaged for the protection of the Kurds in northern Iraq.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The United Nations intends to deploy by mid-July 500 security guards throughout Iraq to complement the UN relief effort.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment of the likelihood of the return of the Kurds to the mountainous areas of northern Iraq once United Kingdom and United States forces have withdrawn.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We intend that the withdrawal of the allied forces should be completed in conditions which will enable those living in the area at present controlled by allied forces to remain.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances have been received by his Department from the Iraqi authorities that further military action will not be conducted against the Kurdish population after United Kingdom and United States forces have withdrawn from northern Iraq.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We and other members of the Security Council have made clear to Iraq the serious consequences of a renewal of its repression of its civilian population. We expect Iraq to continue to comply with Security Council resolution 688.
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§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to offer individual guarantees of protection to Kurds who have assisted United Kingdom forces during the course of their presence in northern Iraq.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
It is our intention that the allied forces should withdraw from Iraq in conditions which will encourage those living in the area at present under the control of allied forces to remain.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the information provided by Kurdish refugees to United Kingdom armed forces during their presence in northern Iraq.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We take full account of all information reaching us on the situation in Iraq.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards the prevention of further military action by the Iraqi armed forced against its Kurdish population.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Security Council resolution 688 calls on Iraq to end its repression of its civilian population. We expect Iraq to continue to comply with that resolution. We have made clear to Iraq the serious consequences of a repression of its civilian population.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement of his policy on what guarantees of protection will be provided by Her Majesty's Government to the Kurdish population of northern Iraq once United Kingdom forces have been withdrawn.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
It is our intention that allied forces should withdraw from Iraq in conditions which will encourage those living in the area of northern Iraq at present controlled by allied forces to remain.

§ Mr. McFall
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding the deployment of United Kingdom forces to protect the Kurds in northern Iraq.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The deployment of allied forces to establish safe havens in northern Iraq was always intended as a temporary measure to meet an urgent and overwhelming humanitarian need. Latest reports show that the immediate humanitarian need has been largely met. Those forces whose task is complete are being withdrawn. But no date has been fixed for the complete withdrawal of allied forces which we intend should take place in conditions which will encourage those living in the area now controlled by allied forces to remain.