§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the treatment of the Kurds in Syria; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have received a number of representations about the plight of the Kurdish community in Syria and elsewhere. We regularly raise our concerns about human rights issues with the Syrian authorities.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the treatment of the Kurdish community in Iran; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have received some representations on the treatment of Kurds in Iran. We are naturally sympathetic to the plight of the Kurdish people throughout the region and are following closely developments in this area, including Iranian action against the Kurdish democratic party of Iran on the Iran-Iraq border, about which we have made clear our concern to the Iranian authorities.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the treatment of the Kurds in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI have received a number of letters from honourable Members about the treatment of Kurds in Iraq. Foreign Office officials are in regular contact with representatives of the Kurdish administration.
We condemn Iraq's continued abuse of the human rights of all its citizens, including the Kurds. We urge Iraq to observe Security Council resolution 688, which calls on Iraq to cease repression of its civilians. We condemn the continued blockade of the Kurdish area of northern Iraq, and the cutting off of electricity to Dohuk governorate.