Middle East (Hansard, 13 January 1998)

§ 21. Mr. Gerrard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in the middle east.[20433]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
We are concerned by the current stalemate. We attach the highest importance to full implementation of existing commitments under the Interim and Hebron Agreements, and will give that issue high priority during our conduct of the EU Presidency.
187W

§ 23. Mr. Rooney
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Union's role in the middle east peace process during the United Kingdom's presidency. [20435]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
Working to re-inject momentum into the peace process will be one of the most important foreign policy priorities of our Presidency. We will endeavour to keep up the pressure for progress in implementing existing agreements and ensure that EU and US efforts are complementary in moving the peace process forward.

§ 28. Mr. Burden
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process. [20440]

§ Mr. Fatchett
Working to re-inject momentum into the peace process will be one of the most important foreign policy priorities of our Presidency. We will endeavour to keep up the pressure for progress in implementing existing agreements and ensure that EU and US efforts are complementary in moving the peace process forward.
As part of our Presidency involvement I will be visiting Israel, Gaza and the West Bank on 14 to 16 January. I will be holding meetings with, among others, the Prime Minister of Israel and the Minister of The Palestine National Authority.

§ 33. Mr. Clifton-Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit the middle east to discuss measures to increase United Kingdom exports to that area. [20445]

§ Mr. Fatchett
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary hopes to visit the Middle East during the Spring. I am sure that trade issues will be discussed during his visit. I am delighted by the continuing high level of British exports to the region. Over the first ten months of 1997 there was a year on year increase of 19 per cent.