HC Deb 10 June 1991 vol 192 cc416-7W
Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effective protection the Kurds in the safe havens will receive after the allies withdraw from the areas in question.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We are doing everything we can to ensure the persecution the Kurds have suffered at the hands of Saddam Hussein does not happen again. Considerable reassurance should be provided by the deployment of United Nations relief workers and field service personnel, who will monitor the security situation and report any abuses to the United Nations Secretary-General. We are discussing with our coalition partners what other arrangements might be put in place to deter Saddam Hussein from further aggression.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from representatives of the Kurdish community in northern Iraq over the withdrawal of allied forces from the areas of the safe havens.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We are in regular contact with Kurdish leaders in northern Iraq and are monitoring closely developments arising from the agreement in principle reached between Kurdish leaders and the Iraqi Government in April.

Mr. Winnick

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions relating to the safety and security of the people involved are to be fulfilled before the allies leave the areas of the safe havens by the date announced, and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We have made it clear in our contacts with Kurdish leaders that allied forces cannot remain in northern Iraq indefinitely. No decisions have yet been reached on the timing of a final withdrawal; we and our coalition partners are doing everything we can to create the climate of security and reassurance necessary to ensure respect for the fundamental human and political rights of the Kurdish people.