§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they, or the European Union, have taken or intend to take any steps in support of the United Nations Secretary-General's statement of 1 October urging Turkey to withdraw its troops from northern Iraq as soon as possible; whether on 20 October the road between Dohuk and Shaqlawah was closed while Turkish military vehicles delivered arms and ammunition to the Kurdish Democratic Party, and whether any of this material was irregularly diverted from NATO supplies.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)My colleague, Doug Henderson, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, met the Turkish Foreign Minister on 14 October and underlined our concern that Turkish troops should withdraw from northern Iraq as soon as possible. We are not aware of any closure of the Dohuk/Shaqlawah road.