§ 19. Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he intends to hold with the Foreign Minister of Israel regarding a peace settlement in the middle east.
§ Mr. HurdI had constructive and useful talks with the Israeli Foreign Minister on 5 March. We agreed that the reversal of the Iraqi aggression offered some new opportunities to bring peace to the middle east region as a whole.
§ 21. Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation in the middle east.
§ Mr. HurdCoalition forces suspended hostilities against Iraq on 28 February. Security Council resolution 686 sets out the conditions which Iraq must fulfil for a definitive end to hostilities. We and our coalition partners will continue our efforts to achieve this and to restore peace and security to the area.
§ Mr. McAvoyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Israel about the convening of a middle east peace conference to discuss the question of a Palestinian state; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State had useful talks about the middle east with the Israeli Foreign Minister on 5 March. We have long supported the idea of a peace conference. But a conference is a mechanism, not an end in itself. It needs to be called at the right moment.