§ Sir Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military assistance has been provided to(a) Uzbekistan, (b) Turkmenistan, (c) Kazakhstan, (d) Kyrgyzstan, (e) Pakistan, (f) Georgia and (g) Azerbaijan since 2000; and if he will make a statement. [154545]
§ Mr. IngramAll these countries are situated in a region of increasing strategic importance to the United Kingdom. The UK has small but carefully focused programmes of bilateral co-operation with most of them facilitated by our resident Defence Attachés.
The UK's military assistance to Uzbekistan has focused on training and advice to assist the Uzbekistan Ministry of Defence with its defence reform efforts. It has stressed the importance of respect for the rule of law and human rights, and has included English language training and assistance with the development of junior staff officer and NCO training. The UK also provided a modest amount of military aid to Uzbekistan in March 2002—100 combat helmets and 15 mine detectors.
The UK provides no military assistance to Turkmenistan apart from a small English language training programme.
4WThe UK's military assistance to Kazakhstan has focused on training and advice to help enhance Kazakhstan's peacekeeping capability and support its defence reform efforts. It has included English language training and assistance with the development of NCO training.
Military assistance to Kyrgyzstan has centred on English language training and assistance with mountain patrolling techniques. The UK also provided a modest amount of military aid to Kyrgyzstan in March 2002—100 combat helmets and 15 mine detectors.
The UK has close historical ties with the armed forces of Pakistan. Over the past four years Pakistan has received military assistance in the form of places on training courses in the UK at the Royal College of Defence Studies, the Joint Services Command and Staff College, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and other Service establishments. In Pakistan the UK has provided assistance with flight safety and military band training and has agreed to respond to Pakistani requests for emergency humanitarian escape and rescue assistance for their small submarine fleet.
UK military assistance to Georgia has focused on training and advice to help defence reform. Our efforts concentrate on advisory visits and have included English language training and assistance with the development of NCO training. Defence reform is also supported by a UK Civilian Special Defence Adviser to the Georgian Ministry of Defence and a resettlement programme which re-trains retired service personnel.
The UK's military assistance to Azerbaijan has been confined to English language training.