HC Deb 30 January 1991 vol 184 cc522-4W
Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Arab states with whom, before 15 January, he discussed the issue of linkage between Iraq's retreat from Kuwait and a middle east peace conference; and what positions they took.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Since 2 August of last year, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and other FCO Ministers have had opportunities to discuss Iraq's invasion of Kuwait with the majority of Arab leaders. They recognised that the present crisis had to be resolved before attention could return to the other problems of the middle east.

Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Arab states have committed forces to the allied side in the Gulf conflict; and what formal intimation he has received from each about their war aims.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Contributions to the multinational force have been made by Egypt, Morocco, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The aim of the force is to enforce the relevant Security Council resolutions acting under the authority of the United Nations as given in Security Council resolution 678.

Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the state of Kuwait formally requested the United Kingdom to engage in the use of force under resolution 678 of the United Nations Security Council.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

British forces are engaged under the express authority of the Security Council in resolution 678. The action has the support and approval of the Government of Kuwait, whose forces are also in action alongside those of their allies.

Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy with regard to that part of United Nations Security Council resolution 678 which refers to restoring international peace and security in the area.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Our objectives in the current crisis remain as defined in UNSCR 678 which authorises United Nations member states co-operating with the Government of Kuwait to use all necessary means to uphold and implement SCR 660 and all subsequent relevant resolutions of the council and to restore international peace and security in the area.

Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest position with the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 672.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

UNSCR 672 requires a continuing commitment by the Israeli Government to apply the provisions of the Fourth Geneva convention in its administration of the occupied territories. We continue to press for this. The resolution also asks the United Nations Secretary-General to report on the situation there. He did this on 1 November.

Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he discussed Gulf war aims at his meeting with the French Foreign Minister on 24 January; and what conclusions were reached.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Our aims in the conflict are clear and limited and are set out in the United Nations Security Council resolutions on the Gulf crisis. There was thus no need to discuss them at my right hon. Friend's meeting in Paris on 24 January.

Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to seek the authority of the United Nations Security Council before considering any extension of current Gulf war aims.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Our objectives in the current crisis remain as defined in UNSCR 678 which authorises United Nations member states co-operating with the Government of Kuwait to use all necessary means to uphold and implement SCR 660 and all subsequent relevant resolutions of the Council, and to restore international peace and security in the area.

Mr. Sillars

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with members of the Union of Arab Maghreb nations about an early meeting of the United Nations Security Council to address the issues of the Gulf war; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

SCR 678 authorised United Nations member states co-operating with the Government of Kuwait to use all necessary means to uphold and implement United Nations resolutions on the Gulf crisis and to restore international peace and security in the area. We see no need for the Security Council to hold an early meeting to address the current hostilities.

Mr. Trotter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about recent executions of senior Iraqi military officers in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Press reports of 25 January suggested that the commanders of the Iraqi air force, and of the anti-aircraft defence, had been executed. We cannot confirm the accuracy of these reports.