§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which of the sites listed in the Government's dossier on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction published on 24 September 2002 have been visited by inspectors from the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission; and whether anything of significance was found at such locations. [90179]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe understand from published information from UNMOVIC and the IAEA inspectors have visited all of the sites identified in the UK dossier. They have not reported uncovering any signs of weapons of mass destruction, or programmes for their production at the sites. Given that there had been considerable advance publicity about these sites, it is not entirely surprising that the inspectors failed to uncover any evidence of WMD programme at the sites. Compliance with the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 1441 must be more than simply allowing access to UN weapons inspectors. There must be full cooperation with the inspectors and complete openness about activities at all sites visited, as the Resolution requires.
§ Joan RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the UN weapons inspectors have visited(a) the Castor Oil Production plant at Fallujah in Iraq, (b) the al-Dawrah Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Institute and (c) the Amariyah Sera and Vaccine Plant at Abu Ghraib in the pursuit of their duties under UN Resolution 1441. [91343]
§ Mr. Mike O'Brien[holding answer 16 January 2003]Information as published by UNMOVIC and the IAEA indicates that all three sites have been visited by the UN weapons inspectors. Further information is available from their internet websites www.un.org/depts/unmovic and www.iaea.org/worldatom.
§ Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of the Northern Iraqi Kurdish people on the situation in Iraq. [91685]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienMinisters and officials regularly meet representatives of the northern Iraq Kurdish administration as well as other Iraqi oppositionists. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, leaders of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan respectively, in December 2002.
§ Mr. ConnartyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Syria on relations with Iraq. [91686]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienIraq was one of the issues covered in a meeting the Secretary of State and I had with the Syrian Foreign Minister, Farouk Al-Shara'a, in London on 16 December. Earlier that day the Prime Minister also discussed the issue with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in the Middle East have made requests to the United Kingdom Government to take military action against Iraq on their behalf or with their support; and if he will make a statement. [91734]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienAs the Government have repeatedly made clear, no decision to launch military action against Iraq has been taken, and military action is not inevitable. Our policy is to ensure that Iraq complies with its obligations under relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.