§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to(a) Syria and (b) Iran on the fate of missing Israeli service personnel; and if he will make a statement. [124591]
§ Mr. RammellWe condemn hostage taking under any circumstances and have made a number of representations to governments in the Middle East about the missing Israeli servicemen. On each occasion we emphasise that hostage taking is wrong and that those holding hostages should free them at once. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last raised the matter with Iranian Foreign Minister Kharrazi on 6 February 2003 and my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Mike O'Brien) raised it with Syrian Foreign Minister Shara'a during President Al-Assad's visit to the UK on 16 and 17 December 2002. We have also raised the issue with Hizbollah.