Middle East (Hansard, 26 June 1991)

§ 21. Mr. Canavan
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had about solving the outstanding problems in the middle east; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is in regular touch with all the parties concerned on the outstanding middle east problems including the Arab-Israel dispute, Gulf security, regional disarmament and the situation in Iraq.

§ 23. Mr. Butler
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for release of the British hostages in the middle east.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
My visit to Lebanon and Syria was a further opportunity to work for the hostages' release. The Governments of both countries said they shared our determination to achieve their freedom. We are also in close touch with the Iranian Government, who have said that they will continue to use their influence to achieve the hostages' release. As I said after the visit, there are no conclusive signs of an immediate release, but the trends are encouraging.
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§ 35. Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the middle east peace process.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The United States Secretary of State continues with our full support in his attempts to secure the agreement of all parties to the convening of a peace conference. There remain unresolved differences, mainly of a procedural nature. We have played our part in urging the parties to resolve these problems in order to allow the peace process to begin. We regard Israel's policy on settlements as a serious obstacle to this process.

§ 36. Mr. Cyril D. Townsend
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's contribution to finding a diplomatic and peaceful solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict acceptable to the international community.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
We have given our full support to the United States Secretary of State's initiative to restart the peace process. This offers the best hope of progress. We have urged the parties to the dispute to show the necessary flexibility. We are in close touch with the United States of America and our EC partners on the way forward. We remain concerned about the situation in the occupied territories in particular the continued establishment and expansion of settlements.