§ Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Her Majesty's Government will offer to the Kurdish Front Alliance in its preparations for the elections in Iraqi Kurdistan; and what recognition Her Majesty's Government propose to give to the forthcoming elections in Iraqi Kurdistan and to their result.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have told Kurdish political leaders in Iraq that it is in their own interests to work together in opposing Saddam Hussein's repression and in bringing an end to the economic blockade which he has imposed on northern Iraq. We hope that regional elections will help achieve this.
We support the Kurds' aim of autonomy, not independence, within Iraq's existing borders. Kurdish leaders have told us that this is what they want.