§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is his policy to support the suspension of Pakistan from the Commonwealth. [131518]
§ Mr. HainThe Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Durban in November 1999 endorsed the decision of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) to suspend Pakistan from the councils of the Commonwealth and called for the restoration of civilian democratic rule. CMAG was tasked with keeping the situation in Pakistan under review and to recommend further measures to be taken by the Commonwealth if progress to democracy was not made speedily. Commonwealth members will consider further action at future meetings of CMAG and CHOGM in the light of developments in Pakistan.
§ Mr. GardinerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors led him to lift the arms embargo on Pakistan. [131517]
§ Mr. HainThere has been no arms embargo on Pakistan. As stated on 10 July 1998,Official Report, columns 687–88W, we continue to assess export licence applications on a case-by-case basis against our national criteria and those in the EU Code of Conduct for Arms Exports, and in light of the statement made after the Pakistani and Indian nuclear tests.
Last October's coup created many uncertainties. The Government have taken time to consider the situation in Pakistan and the wider region before deciding on outstanding export licence applications. The Government have now reached decisions on a number of these. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, South (Mr. Lewis) on 5 July 2000, Official Report, columns 221–22W, which explains this in more detail.