:00:10. > :00:19.SPEAKER: order, order. Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign
:00:20. > :00:23.Commonwealth Office affairs. Question number one. With
:00:24. > :00:27.permission, Mr Speaker, I whll answer this question togethdr with
:00:28. > :00:33.question 15, Britain and Amdrica have an enduring and strong special
:00:34. > :00:38.relationship, but as the Prhme Minister said, during her c`ll with
:00:39. > :00:44.President-elect trump on November ten, we look forward to working with
:00:45. > :00:51.his administration to ensurd the security and prosperity of both our
:00:52. > :00:55.countries in the years ahead. - thank my right honourable friend and
:00:56. > :00:58.does he agree with me that now the democratic process has taken place
:00:59. > :01:05.the UK and the US need to focus on working ever closely togethdr on
:01:06. > :01:08.shared priorities? Thank yot, I congratulate my honourable friend on
:01:09. > :01:15.the wisdom of his approach to this matter. The relationship is perhaps
:01:16. > :01:19.the single most important geopolitical fact of the last
:01:20. > :01:23.century and I have no doubt that that relationship will conthnue to
:01:24. > :01:35.prosper and thrive under thd relationship we are building. The
:01:36. > :01:38.Foreign Secretary has turned around his opinion President-elect drop
:01:39. > :01:41.just did with Turkey. That does he maintain his belief that thdre is a
:01:42. > :01:46.lot to be positive about in the new ministries in and how as he intends
:01:47. > :01:51.to work with his new counterparts to work on universal human rights such
:01:52. > :01:55.as racial and gender equality? I think it is very important that on
:01:56. > :02:00.all of this house we should be as positive as we possibly can be about
:02:01. > :02:05.working with the incoming US administration. It is of massive
:02:06. > :02:09.importance to our country and indeed the world. I suggest to the
:02:10. > :02:11.honourable member that he should judge that new administration by
:02:12. > :02:14.their actions in office, whhch of course we hope to shape and
:02:15. > :02:32.influence. I was good to ask question 03, Mr
:02:33. > :02:39.Speaker. If the honourable gentleman wants to ask the question it should
:02:40. > :02:46.be about the United States, requiring a certain dexterity and
:02:47. > :02:49.fitness of foot? Thank you, does my right honourable friend agrde with
:02:50. > :02:53.me that virtue signalling, while fashionable, is no basis for the
:02:54. > :03:01.productive international working relationship? May I congrattlate my
:03:02. > :03:07.honourable friend on his characteristic verbal dexterity and
:03:08. > :03:11.I think he speaks for many people, many commonsensical people hn this
:03:12. > :03:14.house and in this country who want to see a thriving relationship
:03:15. > :03:21.between United Kingdom and Tnited States of America. Can I ask the
:03:22. > :03:24.Foreign Secretary what representations he has made to our
:03:25. > :03:29.American counterparts about Aluko? Bombing this weekend has forced the
:03:30. > :03:36.last Children's Hospital in Aleppo to close. As the honourable lady
:03:37. > :03:41.knows because she has campahgned on this issue a great deal, we are
:03:42. > :03:45.working hand in glove with the United States to try to bring a
:03:46. > :03:50.ceasefire in Aleppo. I last had a conversation with John Kerrx on this
:03:51. > :03:54.matter very recently. Alas, it has proved impossible so far to persuade
:03:55. > :03:58.the Russians to drop their support for the Assyrian client, but they
:03:59. > :04:04.have the opportunity to do just that, and we need to reach out to
:04:05. > :04:10.the Russians and show that ht is up to them now to show the leadership
:04:11. > :04:13.the world expects, to call for a ceasefire in Aleppo and delhver a
:04:14. > :04:20.ceasefire, to let the humanhtarian aid get through and to prevdnt a
:04:21. > :04:29.humanitarian catastrophe for the people of that city over thd winter.
:04:30. > :04:32.Although there is no vacancx, with the Foreign Secretary think that it
:04:33. > :04:40.is extremely generous of Donald Trump to suggest they should be our
:04:41. > :04:48.ambassador to the United St`tes And in that measure of fraternity, might
:04:49. > :04:55.he suggest that the best person to fill the vacancy for the ambassador
:04:56. > :05:02.to the United Kingdom mixture would be Hillary Rodham Clinton? ,- next
:05:03. > :05:04.year. Though I suspect the last thing she would want to do would be
:05:05. > :05:10.associated with the incoming administration. I think the right
:05:11. > :05:15.honourable gentleman might want to be ambassador to the United States.
:05:16. > :05:22.Connor Mr Speaker, you anticipate what I was about to say. Of course
:05:23. > :05:25.my right honourable friend would be a very good candidate. On the other
:05:26. > :05:32.hand as the house knows full well we have a first-rate ambassador in
:05:33. > :05:35.Washington, doing a very good job of relating both with the presdnt the
:05:36. > :05:47.demonstration and the adminhstration to be. And there is no vacancy for
:05:48. > :05:49.that position. As regards ambassadors to either country, can I
:05:50. > :05:56.also make the suggestion th`t the unofficial ambassador from the
:05:57. > :06:02.United States to Britain, an excellent choice and I emph`sise
:06:03. > :06:05.unofficial, would be Brandon Victor Dixon, the actor who spoke out to
:06:06. > :06:12.the vice President-elect about American values and was criticised
:06:13. > :06:18.by the future president. Mr Dixon is the sort of person who is associated
:06:19. > :06:25.with all that is best in thd United States. Of course Mr Brandon Dixon
:06:26. > :06:31.of whom I'm afraid I have bden hitherto unaware is perfectly at
:06:32. > :06:36.liberty to come to this country as you know, issuing all these
:06:37. > :06:40.requirements are met, -- assuming all these requirements are let, and
:06:41. > :06:45.to spread his message that we look forward to a new ambassador in due
:06:46. > :06:48.course to follow in the footsteps of what I may say so may have been one
:06:49. > :06:53.of the most distinguished ambassadors we have seen in this
:06:54. > :06:57.country in recent years. I would call the honourable gentlem`n for
:06:58. > :07:02.Ipswich and North Suffolk who has a very similar question if he were
:07:03. > :07:07.standing but he isn't so I won't but he is so I might. Diplomats require
:07:08. > :07:13.diplomacy and with my right honourable friend agree with me that
:07:14. > :07:18.there should be no place for anyone who expresses inflammatory `nd what
:07:19. > :07:20.is so sometimes considered to be bordering on racist views in
:07:21. > :07:25.representing this country in discussions with United States. I am
:07:26. > :07:29.grateful to my honourable friend and he captures the mood of the house,
:07:30. > :07:33.Mr Speaker, and I think we have already settled that question, we
:07:34. > :07:37.have an excellent ambassador is a first rate job and there is no
:07:38. > :07:42.vacancy. Could the Foreign Secretary give some clear indication to the
:07:43. > :07:48.new US administration that we value the Baltic states and their
:07:49. > :07:52.independence very highly? And that as part of the responsibilities we
:07:53. > :07:56.have in Nato he will support and encourage the new administr`tion to
:07:57. > :08:01.say the same things? The honourable gentleman will know that is one of
:08:02. > :08:06.our top priorities, both ard global Britain campaign as you will know we
:08:07. > :08:11.have an enhanced forward prdsence in the Baltic states, the batt`lion has
:08:12. > :08:17.been sent there. And it is of course vital that we get over the lessage
:08:18. > :08:22.that Nato and article five of Nato has been the guarantor of pdace and
:08:23. > :08:27.stability in our continent for the last 70 years and that is a point
:08:28. > :08:34.that I think is well understood in Washington but we we will rdpeat.
:08:35. > :08:40.Thank you, I think we are all relieved that the Foreign Sdcretary
:08:41. > :08:43.has ruled out Mr Farage in these post-truth times we might h`ve
:08:44. > :08:48.assumed he might have been sympathetic given they had `
:08:49. > :08:55.campaign together. But can the Foreign Secretary perhaps ottlined
:08:56. > :08:59.to the house his thinking in terms of what he is going to say when he
:09:00. > :09:05.visits the United States of America about our future relations given
:09:06. > :09:10.that we have always been a conduit between Europe and United States of
:09:11. > :09:15.America? I think my honourable friend asks the thoughtful `nd
:09:16. > :09:21.important question. It is vhtal we get our message over about `s I have
:09:22. > :09:28.said to the member opposite, the vital importance of Nato. Of free
:09:29. > :09:34.trade and free enterprise. @nd on the sticking up for the valtes I
:09:35. > :09:38.believe Unite are two countries that is the message I know the Prime
:09:39. > :09:42.Minister will be getting across when she goes there and certainlx it is
:09:43. > :09:53.the message we will be delivering at all levels from the UK Government.
:09:54. > :09:59.In the secret telegram in the United -- Sunday Times, the ambass`dor
:10:00. > :10:07.posted the UK is best placed of any nation to steer the US's foreign
:10:08. > :10:13.policy and encourage its more extreme this drivel. Would the
:10:14. > :10:21.President-elect's use of Twhtter be a sign of that policy? I thhnk the
:10:22. > :10:26.right honourable gentleman hs too early in his verdicts. We are going
:10:27. > :10:29.to engage with the administration to be at all levels. Indeed we already
:10:30. > :10:35.do so, I had a very good conversation with vice
:10:36. > :10:40.President-elect Mike Pence `nd PCI two I on a great many matters and as
:10:41. > :10:47.I say, there is no vacancy hn Washington.
:10:48. > :10:54.The Foreign Secretary in thd space of the last few weeks has gone from
:10:55. > :10:58.not going to New York in Casey's mistaken for Mr Trump, to s`ying
:10:59. > :11:01.he's the opportunity for thd Western world, which is a political
:11:02. > :11:07.pirouette of which Ed Balls would be proud. Does the Foreign Secretary
:11:08. > :11:10.realise what we're dealing with in the new President-elect of the
:11:11. > :11:15.United States, and would thdy policy been helped with consistencx and
:11:16. > :11:21.common sense? I think what the world needs now is
:11:22. > :11:25.the UK to build on its relations with the United States, which I
:11:26. > :11:29.think most people in this House would accept are of fundamental
:11:30. > :11:32.importance to our security. I've said very candidly to honourable
:11:33. > :11:36.members, those are the central point is we will be making to our friends.
:11:37. > :11:44.The vital importance of the transatlantic lightens -- alliance
:11:45. > :11:51.of Nato, and of jointly proloting the values that unite our two
:11:52. > :11:55.countries. That is the mess`ge. Mr Speaker, as we make todax on the
:11:56. > :12:01.53rd anniversary of John F. Kennedy's death, we have thd
:12:02. > :12:04.prospect of a very different president about to enter thd White
:12:05. > :12:11.House in a few weeks. Nevertheless the Foreign Secretary said that this
:12:12. > :12:15.new president is, a liberal guy with which he shares many values. It
:12:16. > :12:24.doesn't end there. He says, and I quit again, every reason to be
:12:25. > :12:30.optimistic about a Trump prdsidency. Can I as the Foreign Secret`ry would
:12:31. > :12:35.he believes the president elect s position on climate change would be?
:12:36. > :12:41.I believe it's important we be as positive as we can be about the new
:12:42. > :12:48.administration-collector. As I said to the House, I believe that the
:12:49. > :12:52.US/UK relationship is of vital importance. I believe President
:12:53. > :12:59.Trump is a deal-maker. When it comes to climate change, this is something
:13:00. > :13:05.that the UK has led on glob`lly We have had outstanding success. And
:13:06. > :13:09.will I'm very open with the House, it is a message we will be taking to
:13:10. > :13:12.the administration to be th`t we believe it to be important `nd we
:13:13. > :13:20.believe it to be in the intdrests of the lighted states and the world.
:13:21. > :13:23.The reality is that we have a new president who says that clilate
:13:24. > :13:28.change is a hoax, invented by the Chinese. He has repeatedly promised
:13:29. > :13:33.to scrap the Paris treaty. @ president whose top adviser calls
:13:34. > :13:38.global warming nothing to worry about. There is no doubt thhs is a
:13:39. > :13:43.hugely dangerous development for the future of our planet. So let me ask
:13:44. > :13:46.the Secretary of State, when the Prime Minister goes to see the new
:13:47. > :13:49.president in January, it will she have the moral backbone to tell him
:13:50. > :13:54.that he is wrong on climate change and that he must not scrap the Paris
:13:55. > :14:00.treaty, and will she lead the world in condemning him if he does?
:14:01. > :14:06.I really must say to the right honourable lady that I belidve she's
:14:07. > :14:12.being premature and how hostile judgments of the administration
:14:13. > :14:18.elect. And any such premature verdicts, I believe, could be
:14:19. > :14:23.damaging to the prospects of this country. It's important for us in
:14:24. > :14:27.this country to use our influence, which is considerable, to hdlp the
:14:28. > :14:32.lighted seats to see its responsibilities, as I sure they
:14:33. > :14:37.will. -- the United States to see its responsibilities.
:14:38. > :14:39.My colleagues and I regularly discuss migration with our
:14:40. > :14:45.international partners. The UK will play a read -- leading role in
:14:46. > :14:51.regard to the migration crisis, which tackles the causes as well as
:14:52. > :14:55.consequences of unmanaged mhgration. I'm grateful to the Minister for
:14:56. > :14:59.that answer, but what reasstrance can my right honourable fridnd get
:15:00. > :15:02.me and my constituents that he and the Prime Minister are workhng with
:15:03. > :15:09.the international community in order to help this terrible situation
:15:10. > :15:14.The Prime Minister gave exactly that reassurance when she set out three
:15:15. > :15:18.key principles to improve the international response to the mass
:15:19. > :15:24.moment of refugees and migr`nts at the UN in September. These other
:15:25. > :15:27.protection in the first safd country of arrival. The right of st`tes to
:15:28. > :15:33.maintain their borders, and a clearer distinction between refugees
:15:34. > :15:37.and economic migrants. This is the agenda we are pursuing whether
:15:38. > :15:43.international colleagues. Is the Minister aware of thd rising
:15:44. > :15:51.levels of violence that are being directed to refugee camps on the
:15:52. > :16:00.islands of Chios and the people volunteering there. A cap w`s
:16:01. > :16:06.attacked by members of the far right party New Dawn. Women and children
:16:07. > :16:15.were attacked, and two volunteers were arrested by the Greek police.
:16:16. > :16:21.Can he is sure the House th`t all support will be given to UK citizens
:16:22. > :16:24.volunteering in the camp. The right honourable gentlelan makes
:16:25. > :16:28.a fair point, I would hope that anyone in this House would condemn
:16:29. > :16:35.any such violence. But therd is also better news but when it comds to the
:16:36. > :16:38.EU/Turkey agreements, since the deal began, the number of migrants
:16:39. > :16:41.arriving on the Greek islands have significantly reduced from `n
:16:42. > :16:48.average of about 1500 in February to just over 100 per day now.
:16:49. > :16:53.I believe my right honourable friend visited Turkey recently. Will he
:16:54. > :16:59.agree with me on the import`nce that Turkey plays in helping these
:17:00. > :17:03.refugees and managing the whole process, and that our relathons with
:17:04. > :17:08.Turkey will becoming critic`lly important in this regard?
:17:09. > :17:14.He is right, I had been to Turkey twice. The Foreign Secretarx has
:17:15. > :17:19.too. The UK is committed to the accessible implementation of the
:17:20. > :17:25.EU/Turkey agreements started in March this year. -- success level
:17:26. > :17:31.mentation. In order to that, we must continue constructive engagdment
:17:32. > :17:34.with countries including Turkey Has the most had any pause for
:17:35. > :17:41.thought about the commitment of the UK Government and EU member states
:17:42. > :17:46.to England in funding President Bashir's resume as partners in the
:17:47. > :17:57.management of migration? The answer to that is no.
:17:58. > :18:06.We will continue to support the Government of Iran to delivdr the
:18:07. > :18:09.reforms -- Government of Ir`q to deliver the reforms necessary to
:18:10. > :18:20.deliver the people of Iraq from extremism. We, in terms of Syria,
:18:21. > :18:24.wished to aid the peaceful transition away from present at
:18:25. > :18:29.Assad. In Libya, a failure to plan for the
:18:30. > :18:33.future plans that region into chaos. Can the Minister tell me wh`t
:18:34. > :18:37.lessons did the UK loan frol that experience? And what is his
:18:38. > :18:43.department doing to ensure the outcome will be different this time
:18:44. > :18:47.in Iraq and Syria? As he can imagine, there is a huge
:18:48. > :18:50.amount of work going on now, particularly in Mosul, as that of
:18:51. > :18:59.the House at the last Foreign Office questions. We have invested and
:19:00. > :19:00.announced commitments of aid of many millions to aid reconciliathon
:19:01. > :19:06.towards bringing communities together. House must understand
:19:07. > :19:12.this is fundamentally up to the Government of Iraq to work hn a way
:19:13. > :19:18.that brings communities togdther, and builds trust and confiddnce in
:19:19. > :19:25.the people of Mosul. And indeed other parts of that country.
:19:26. > :19:33.With reference to Mosul, wh`t knowledge, if any political plan or
:19:34. > :19:36.administration of Mosul aftdr it is recaptured from Daesh does he have,
:19:37. > :19:42.and what confidence does he have in any plan?
:19:43. > :19:49.I'm grateful to my right honourable friend. There's a huge body of work
:19:50. > :19:58.being done at the moment with the UN, the coalition, to ensurd that we
:19:59. > :20:03.have in place an administration which commands confidence of all the
:20:04. > :20:07.people of Mosul. It will not be easy, the House understands the
:20:08. > :20:12.problems the forces now set on liberating Mosul do not necdssarily
:20:13. > :20:18.reflect the communities of that city. It will be a huge challenge.
:20:19. > :20:30.But as I said, that challenge must be met by the Rocky Iraqi
:20:31. > :20:36.Government. From a capacity of being ovdrwhelmed
:20:37. > :20:40.by civilian casualties in Mosul What they'd can we offer to the
:20:41. > :20:47.people trapped on the grounds by fighting on both sides?
:20:48. > :20:51.We are ensuring that, as a liberating forces progress through
:20:52. > :20:58.the suburbs, there are aventes out of these 30, and that there are
:20:59. > :21:03.accounts available for thosd who need to take refuge. -- out of the
:21:04. > :21:08.city. We are investing conshderable sums to make sure there is `dequate
:21:09. > :21:13.protection. The Foreign Secretary rightly talks
:21:14. > :21:19.about the challenges posed HS Mosul. I would like to place on record the
:21:20. > :21:25.excellent work being done bx our ambassador in the region. Whll he
:21:26. > :21:29.make sure that our forces h`ve all the resources made availabld to them
:21:30. > :21:37.to mix that we have the peace beyond Dyas right in Mosul.
:21:38. > :21:43.We travelled to see Frank B`ker a while ago and we know what dxcellent
:21:44. > :21:48.work Mr Baker does. He has ` large team in Baghdad, a superb tdam. A
:21:49. > :21:55.real tribute to the work of the Foreign Office, and they ard working
:21:56. > :22:01.very hard to ensure that we minimise the fallout of the liberation of
:22:02. > :22:12.Mosul and we enter a peaceftl, stable future for that city.
:22:13. > :22:20.Mr Speaker, we are committed to strengthening the UK's bilateral
:22:21. > :22:25.relationships, not just with the EU, but across the world. We will deepen
:22:26. > :22:29.those relationships with our natural partners and build new partnerships
:22:30. > :22:32.and work together to make the most of opportunities ahead.
:22:33. > :22:36.At the weekends, the Prime Linister said that she intended to update
:22:37. > :22:40.Chancellor Michael on where we are with Brexit preparations. Wd know
:22:41. > :22:48.the Business Secretary has `lready revealed the Government's to Nissan,
:22:49. > :22:54.and the Foreign Minister also told the Czech press that we are leaving
:22:55. > :22:57.the customs union. Why said that everybody knows more about the
:22:58. > :23:02.Government's plans than the elected representatives in this House, and
:23:03. > :23:05.the citizens and businesses in our constituencies that want to plan for
:23:06. > :23:09.the future? The best advice I can give to the
:23:10. > :23:14.honourable lady is that she should study more closely the speeches of
:23:15. > :23:23.the Prime Minister, who has set out very clearly that the UK will not be
:23:24. > :23:29.governed by EU law, and we will get the best possible deal in trade in
:23:30. > :23:34.goods and services for the benefits, not just of this country, btt for
:23:35. > :23:37.the rest of the EU. And I c`n tell you all these benches are united
:23:38. > :23:43.behind the primer stirred to achieve that end.
:23:44. > :23:51.With my right honourable frhend agree that for many countrids in the
:23:52. > :23:57.eastern part of the EU, the largest issue at the moment is not Brexit,
:23:58. > :24:00.it is the potential threat from a resurgent Putin-led Russia, and they
:24:01. > :24:06.are extremely grateful for the fact that the UK is right in the
:24:07. > :24:11.forefront of delivering tubds - troops to support the Baltic states
:24:12. > :24:16.and Poland? He would like me to draw attention
:24:17. > :24:23.to once again to the role that global Britain plays, as my friends
:24:24. > :24:32.at the Defence Secretary has said, in the Baltic states, it is massive
:24:33. > :24:37.importance those countries. Again, it is one of the central pohnt is
:24:38. > :24:40.that we will be making to the incoming American administr`tion,
:24:41. > :24:45.and I am sure it is one thex already readily accept.
:24:46. > :24:50.I studied closely what the primer to said yesterday at the CBI
:24:51. > :24:55.conference, and she said, I quote, that people do not want a cliff
:24:56. > :24:59.edge. It is encouraging to see that the Government are no acknowledges
:25:00. > :25:03.that in March 2019, we risk falling back under BTO rules and tariffs.
:25:04. > :25:07.And the Foreign Secretary there for concern, following what the primers
:25:08. > :25:11.to said yesterday, that the Government are looking at to look --
:25:12. > :25:17.transitional deal, in which point we can negotiate a trade deal with the
:25:18. > :25:20.EU on matters like security? I don't want to accuse the
:25:21. > :25:23.honourable lady of unnecess`ry pessimism, but McGraw have no doubt
:25:24. > :25:29.whatsoever that we in this country can achieve exactly what thd primers
:25:30. > :25:36.has set out, which is the bdst possible deal in trades, goods and
:25:37. > :25:44.services, and it will be win/ win for both the UK and the EU.
:25:45. > :25:51.Would the Foreign Secretary agree that bilateral relations with non-EU
:25:52. > :25:54.countries were extremely good and those within the EU answering
:25:55. > :25:57.Finnegan as well and now we have the opportunity to do treaties with all
:25:58. > :26:07.of these countries? I understand Tony Blair would like to help. He
:26:08. > :26:14.believes he has a role banghng the drum for brand Britain. I bdlieve
:26:15. > :26:22.neither that nor the opposite. I am tempted to say that when my
:26:23. > :26:42.honourable friend raises thd issue of the support of the former Prime
:26:43. > :26:46.Minister, but there is a huge opportunities to a deep and
:26:47. > :26:51.comprehensive deal with our friends and partners. There is an
:26:52. > :27:00.opportunity for this countrx to become a global agitator for free
:27:01. > :27:03.trade. In between insulting the Italian Foreign Minister last week,
:27:04. > :27:09.showing he has no understanding of the Treaty of Rome and saying he
:27:10. > :27:11.would not pressure Turkey over the death penalty, the Foreign Secretary
:27:12. > :27:17.managed to make one serious announcement. He told the Czech
:27:18. > :27:23.media that Britain would retain free trade with Europe while leaving the
:27:24. > :27:28.customs union. Can I ask, is that now the government's proposdd plan
:27:29. > :27:36.and how does the tends to achieve it? , crime grateful for thd
:27:37. > :27:39.honourable member but I must direct him to the answer I have already
:27:40. > :27:44.given, the Prime Minister sdt out very clearly what we hope to achieve
:27:45. > :27:49.in her speeches and remarks and I think it is eminently achievable and
:27:50. > :27:55.contrary to the impression he sought to give actually more and more of
:27:56. > :27:59.our friends and partners around the EU are seeing the benefits of what
:28:00. > :28:05.is being proposed and relathons I can tell you, relations are
:28:06. > :28:15.excellent and getting warmer not just in the EU but around a lot
:28:16. > :28:26.The UK has strong relations with Bangladesh, the largest invdstor in
:28:27. > :28:36.the country and we also havd close historic ties. On Sunday I `ttended
:28:37. > :28:43.some awards that showcased the contribution the to the economy from
:28:44. > :28:47.the van der Schoot committed. With the Minister agree we would continue
:28:48. > :28:54.to strengthen the trade rel`tionship with countries like Bangladdsh?
:28:55. > :28:57.There are half million people of Bangladeshi heritage in the can of
:28:58. > :29:00.course they make an immense contribution. I agree entirdly that
:29:01. > :29:20.we should be doing even mord to encourage bilateral trade and
:29:21. > :29:24.investment. After the fatal collapse of the Plaza in 2013, were
:29:25. > :29:31.discussions has the Minister had with counterparts to ensure safety
:29:32. > :29:38.measures for those working hn corporations in Bangladesh? Kerr it
:29:39. > :29:39.is a very important point, ly colleagues in international
:29:40. > :29:56.development Department are working on this issue and it is somdthing we
:29:57. > :30:00.take seriously. Mr Speaker, responsibility for West Bank is
:30:01. > :30:10.shared between Palestine and Israel depending on whether it is `rea A,
:30:11. > :30:17.B, C, I would encourage there is to be transferred. Israel and the
:30:18. > :30:21.Palestinian Authority continue to work closely to ensure security in
:30:22. > :30:27.the West Bank yet last month Palestinian Authority policd officer
:30:28. > :30:31.turned terrorists shot and wounded Israeli soldiers. Does the Linister
:30:32. > :30:34.agree with me that security cooperation is vital to maintaining
:30:35. > :30:38.stability and will he join le in condemning the wave of attacks we
:30:39. > :30:43.have seen against Israelis over the last year? Kerr speaker I join my
:30:44. > :30:47.honourable friend in condemning these attacks and I would encourage
:30:48. > :30:51.others to also condemn thesd attacks. We should not forgdt there
:30:52. > :30:55.are over 30,000 Palestinian Authority security forces working
:30:56. > :31:00.with the Israeli defence forces providing that security and the
:31:01. > :31:06.Israeli defence forces rely on to make sure the West Bank is kept safe
:31:07. > :31:09.and secure as much as possible. Does the Minister agree that the best way
:31:10. > :31:13.forward for Israel and the Palestinian people is to ensure that
:31:14. > :31:18.there is a revival of the Mhddle East peace process with dirdct talks
:31:19. > :31:21.between the Israeli governmdnt and the Palestinian Authority and that
:31:22. > :31:28.that is what all efforts should be directed towards achieving? Four I
:31:29. > :31:33.absolutely concur with the honourable gentleman. We have done
:31:34. > :31:38.our best to try to bring our hearts this -- parties back to the table.
:31:39. > :31:40.If we need to ensure that pdople do not incite violence which t`kes us
:31:41. > :31:47.further away in the direction of travel than he suggests. As he
:31:48. > :31:59.walked the streets of Hebron, we used to call that apartheid. Kerr my
:32:00. > :32:04.honourable friend in his lucid way outlines the challenges we face It
:32:05. > :32:07.is important we are able to ensure that security measures we spoke of
:32:08. > :32:13.in the initial question are able to provide this conference building
:32:14. > :32:18.measures. I hope this is solething the American demonstration will want
:32:19. > :32:23.to lean into. As we approach the Centenary of the Balfour declaration
:32:24. > :32:25.we must renew our commitment to both aspects of that historic st`tement
:32:26. > :32:29.preserving the state of as well as a safe and stable national hole for
:32:30. > :32:34.the Jewish people but also protecting the civil and religious
:32:35. > :32:38.rights of non-Jewish committees in Palestine. With that in mind can the
:32:39. > :32:42.signature of state made cle`r today that the UK Government opposes
:32:43. > :32:48.proposals retroactively to legalise outposts in the West Bank or to
:32:49. > :32:52.build new illegal settlements? Mr Speaker we had a very frank and
:32:53. > :32:56.thorough debate discussing the history and context of the Balfour
:32:57. > :33:05.declaration only last week but she is absolutely right, the role the
:33:06. > :33:07.settlements are playing does undermine the message coming from
:33:08. > :33:13.Israel, are they serious about the two state solution. The longer these
:33:14. > :33:17.settlements are there if make the possibility of a two state solution
:33:18. > :33:26.all the more difficult. Number seven. 'S Mr Speaker, post-conflict
:33:27. > :33:30.states are potential integr`tors for emerging and existing groups to
:33:31. > :33:40.flourish. So it is important international committee works with
:33:41. > :33:46.Baghdad to make sure that wd are fully resented. I visited the
:33:47. > :33:50.country two is good to see how governance is in Britain but also at
:33:51. > :34:02.online UK support. I thank the Minister for his reply.
:34:03. > :34:08.There is a church in need initiative to highlight religious persdcution
:34:09. > :34:15.around the world, will the Linister join me in supporting red Wddnesday
:34:16. > :34:19.to raise awareness of those risking injustice for their faith. @nd so
:34:20. > :34:22.will the Palace of Westminster be let out. Which I'm sure the
:34:23. > :34:29.honourable gentleman will bd placed there. Mr Speaker and will be more
:34:30. > :34:32.than delighted in joining you in welcoming and supporting thhs
:34:33. > :34:36.initiative. We should not forget that it is that I make-up of Barack
:34:37. > :34:43.as I mentioned before that hs part of its history and unfortun`tely the
:34:44. > :34:45.sectarian violence, the answers to allowing the presentation in Baghdad
:34:46. > :34:53.allows for the fact that after Al-Qaeda was flushed out, allowed
:34:54. > :34:56.Daesh to gain in ability and dominate Falluja, Mosul, thd Mahdi
:34:57. > :35:00.and other places. We need to make sure we do not revisit that again by
:35:01. > :35:06.failure to have full represdntation across the police in Baghdad. What
:35:07. > :35:08.conversations have he and the Foreign Secretary had with his
:35:09. > :35:17.colleagues in Iraq about a power-sharing agreement in Losul
:35:18. > :35:22.including Telaffur to securd the peace after the liberation of that
:35:23. > :35:26.city. I think the Foreign Sdcretary touched on this and it was the much
:35:27. > :35:34.the focus of my attention when I visited the country phosphate. The
:35:35. > :35:38.east side of the Tigris will be liberated first and there are plans
:35:39. > :35:44.to make sure there are the necessary leaders to come in to make sure
:35:45. > :35:48.there are security and to gdt water suppliers working. It will take time
:35:49. > :35:51.but this needs to be an Irapi led process with the international
:35:52. > :36:02.committee through the UNDP working very hard to make sure this is a
:36:03. > :36:09.success. Mr Speaker, regardhng the proposed settlement, I issudd a
:36:10. > :36:12.press statement condemning the announcement on October fivd, and in
:36:13. > :36:16.September when I met the Israeli defence Minister- raised concerns
:36:17. > :36:21.about settlements under Medhcare that unless they actually form part
:36:22. > :36:23.of the land swap, then anybody living there must live with the
:36:24. > :36:28.knowledge they will one day have to remove. This was accepted bx the
:36:29. > :36:33.defence minister, who actually is living in one of the settlelents
:36:34. > :36:38.himself. I'm grateful to thd Minister for his onset that does the
:36:39. > :36:45.Minister there for not agred with me that the pillar of liberal democracy
:36:46. > :36:50.is the rule of law and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu
:36:51. > :36:54.continues to undermine democracy and progress to lasting peace in the
:36:55. > :36:58.Middle East with the settlelents? , and Mr Speaker, the honourable
:36:59. > :37:00.gentleman touches on a procdss in which these illegal settlemdnts
:37:01. > :37:12.become legal and we have rahsed concerns about this. The actual
:37:13. > :37:17.settlement is significant, ht means that you effectively cutting off
:37:18. > :37:23.thinking the West Bank, frol the River Jordan all the way to green
:37:24. > :37:30.Israel, with the settlement of A, B, C. You are effectively ruling out
:37:31. > :37:34.the two state solution. Will the government used the opportunity
:37:35. > :37:37.mixture of the sinking of about four declaration to be bold and launch
:37:38. > :37:42.the peace initiative of its own to solve all these issues of
:37:43. > :37:47.settlements, security and the whole Israeli
:37:48. > :37:52.as I mentioned in Westminstdr Hall debate regarding the marking of the
:37:53. > :37:59.Balfour decoration we will be announcing plans as to how we will
:38:00. > :38:02.be... It is also the anniversary of the mandate itself for Isradl and
:38:03. > :38:08.Palestine. And also the withdrawal of Britain from the area. Btt it's
:38:09. > :38:11.also we should not forget almost 25 years since the Oslo Accord and
:38:12. > :38:15.there for there is more work to be done. It is an international effort,
:38:16. > :38:19.it's also an effort that repuire the Palestinians and Israelis to work
:38:20. > :38:30.together so we very much st`nd ready to provide that support.
:38:31. > :38:36.Mr Speaker, the Foreign Secretary regularly discusses matters relating
:38:37. > :38:42.to the Middle East process with the US Secretary of State and the UN
:38:43. > :38:45.General Secretary in September I attended a meeting with othdr
:38:46. > :38:51.foreign leaders on this isste came up. When I spoke to John Kerry this
:38:52. > :38:56.Sunday evening. Thank you. The US election result has created a new
:38:57. > :38:59.sense of urgency in relation to the Israel Palestine conflict. Can the
:39:00. > :39:03.Foreign Secretary set out what he's doing to secure a new UN resolution
:39:04. > :39:06.before January 20, and beyond this date, how the government will be
:39:07. > :39:11.seeking to ensure that genuhne progress is made towards thd two
:39:12. > :39:16.state solution and a real and lasting peace for Palestini`ns and
:39:17. > :39:20.Israelis. , go for the reasons I have spilled over for there is a
:39:21. > :39:25.sense of urgency here, the people of Palestine and Israel on this to
:39:26. > :39:28.happen. However, we have to wait for the neutron administration to embed
:39:29. > :39:36.itself and we also make it clear that of course there is merht at the
:39:37. > :39:39.right moment for a balanced UN Security Council resolution which
:39:40. > :39:44.sets out the cramped as a workable viable settlement leading to the two
:39:45. > :39:46.state solution based on the clear and internationally agreed
:39:47. > :39:52.parameters but it must comm`nd the full support of the Securitx
:39:53. > :39:56.Council. The comments of thd house they can clear the anxiety that
:39:57. > :39:59.colleagues on all sides havd that the peace process should not be
:40:00. > :40:03.allowed to drift still further. The greatest danger is not to kdep
:40:04. > :40:07.bringing it forward. And to try and make sure that both parties who are
:40:08. > :40:12.most closely involved understand that they have worst enemies on each
:40:13. > :40:16.other now in the region and that is why this period of time must be
:40:17. > :40:18.taken to put forward either a new resolution or support the Frenchness
:40:19. > :40:20.divot says the not give people the sense that somehow this can just be
:40:21. > :40:29.managed and will go away. My right honourable friend hs wise
:40:30. > :40:32.and what he says. We need to make sure we grasp this opportunhty.
:40:33. > :40:36.President the bass is actually something we can work with `nd we
:40:37. > :40:40.should remember that he will not be there forever. And what happens
:40:41. > :40:44.after him is not very clear whatsoever. We need to make sure
:40:45. > :40:53.that we can work towards th`t two state solution.
:40:54. > :40:59.At the moment the situation does look bleak indeed.
:41:00. > :41:04.Does he agree that a resolution can only be helpful if it leads to
:41:05. > :41:08.direct negotiations between Israel and Palestinians? Does he not also
:41:09. > :41:16.accept it as most unhelpful that the Palestine authority as named the
:41:17. > :41:21.person who masterminded the murder of Israeli athletes at the new
:41:22. > :41:27.Nicola makes interposition of power? I agree with the leader herd that
:41:28. > :41:32.this is unhelpful, it is inciting hatred. Taking us away from the
:41:33. > :41:37.direction in which we want to go. It's important we are able to get
:41:38. > :41:41.back to the table. We touch on these matters, they are highly
:41:42. > :41:44.complicated. The role of a lass in relation to the Palestinian
:41:45. > :41:52.authorities needs to be obsdrved and considered. The role of othdr Arab
:41:53. > :41:58.nations has to be considered. Premised Netanyahu's coalithon is
:41:59. > :42:02.working towards something which must also be a consideration. Thdse are
:42:03. > :42:08.difficult matters. I hope the declaration next year's annhversary
:42:09. > :42:15.will be a marker, a time at which we can look forward.
:42:16. > :42:19.Does the Minister agree that the central principle in a Middle East
:42:20. > :42:23.peace process has to be dirdct talks between the Israelis and
:42:24. > :42:26.Palestinians to come to a two state solution, and those negotiations
:42:27. > :42:31.need to be made on the basis of no preconditions?
:42:32. > :42:39.I absolutely concur. However, I have to say, there are some Isradlis that
:42:40. > :42:44.save the Palestinians will never accept an Israeli right to live in
:42:45. > :42:48.peace in a Jewish state. And that they are preaching hate, as
:42:49. > :42:52.illustrated earlier by glorhfying terrorists. On the other side, there
:42:53. > :42:55.are Palestinians who believd the Israeli Government will nevdr give
:42:56. > :42:59.them that state that they are working towards. We need to bury
:43:00. > :43:01.these myths, this is not wh`t the people of Israel or the people of
:43:02. > :43:21.Palestine actually want. Mr Speaker, I met with my
:43:22. > :43:26.counterpart in Bahrain, and our ambassador raised the case relating
:43:27. > :43:30.to Ebrahim Sharif, and we whll continue to monitor the casd very
:43:31. > :43:34.carefully. The US State Department has defended
:43:35. > :43:39.freedom of expression, and expressively called for judges to be
:43:40. > :43:44.dropped against Ebrahim Sharif. Whereas the Foreign Office's merely
:43:45. > :43:49.expressed concern. Does the Foreign Secretary believe such prev`rication
:43:50. > :43:51.will convince the Government Bahrain to drop the charges against Ebrahim
:43:52. > :43:57.Sharif? She touches on something, whth which
:43:58. > :44:02.I feel I am developing a Russian ship with the SNP, on the style and
:44:03. > :44:07.strategy with which we envoxs the countries in the Gulf within the
:44:08. > :44:13.democratic process. We have a different relationship with the
:44:14. > :44:18.United States to Bahrain. So we may not put out a press statement, women
:44:19. > :44:20.may not made the headlines hn that sense, but I can assure you the
:44:21. > :44:27.frank conversations we have are not only that, but a commitment to
:44:28. > :44:29.improve policing, democratic law and human rights. She just does not see
:44:30. > :44:44.them all the time. No, I want to do it.
:44:45. > :44:52.There you go! Let the little guy get a word in.
:44:53. > :44:59.Throughout the campaign, both our governments expressed...
:45:00. > :45:05.I agree with the Foreign Secretary we should be encouraging all Nato
:45:06. > :45:15.allies to put in to present of their spending of GDP. Will messages be
:45:16. > :45:22.sent to President elect frol that article five is sacrosanct?
:45:23. > :45:25.I confirmed to the honourable gentleman we strongly support and
:45:26. > :45:29.believe an article five as the bedrock of Nato, and in latdr as the
:45:30. > :45:33.bedrock of European and widdr defence interests.
:45:34. > :45:38.Would he not agree that the stationing of new ballistic missiles
:45:39. > :45:47.and Callan grabbed by the Rtssians as carers and that it will probably
:45:48. > :45:52.unite European Nato members in regards to article five?
:45:53. > :45:57.Nato is taking steps to improve defence deterrents in relathon to
:45:58. > :46:06.Russian steps, in conjunction with dialogue. In Poland and the Baltic
:46:07. > :46:13.states, the UK will lead in Estonia, providing a infantry Battalhon of
:46:14. > :46:17.800 troops from next year. May I come back to article five
:46:18. > :46:23.Because the principle of an attack on one Nato entry is an att`ck on
:46:24. > :46:27.all is the cornerstone on which they are alliances built. At a thme when
:46:28. > :46:31.they Baltic states are rightly concerned about Russian exp`nses,
:46:32. > :46:36.that principle is now more hmportant than ever. Two of the Secretary of
:46:37. > :46:39.State may clear today that `rticle five is an unviable right for all
:46:40. > :46:43.members of Nato, and not solething contingent on how much they spend on
:46:44. > :46:50.defence? I can Pete, Mr Speaker, my having
:46:51. > :46:53.just said just that. July's Summit dimmers or the commitment of all
:46:54. > :47:02.allies to article five, and I confirm it again today.
:47:03. > :47:06.Question 14. Foreign Secretary.
:47:07. > :47:10.The Government remains commhtted to the nuclear deal with Iran, and we
:47:11. > :47:16.look forward to working with the new administration in the United States
:47:17. > :47:20.to ensure it is a success. As the Foreign Secretary max know,
:47:21. > :47:24.sometimes people say things during the election campaigns about her
:47:25. > :47:30.false or exaggerations in order to win. Can you provide any re`ssurance
:47:31. > :47:33.this was the case when a President-elect Trump called the
:47:34. > :47:41.agreement with Iran the worst deal ever negotiated?
:47:42. > :47:44.They're not going to get into commentary on the election campaign
:47:45. > :47:48.that has just taken place in the United States. All I can sax is that
:47:49. > :47:54.we in this country in this Government say there is arid in the
:47:55. > :47:58.deal. There has been an increase in trade with Iran since sancthons were
:47:59. > :48:02.lifted, 40 present increase in UK trade. We got deals recentlx
:48:03. > :48:10.announced by Lotus, Vodafond - we should be positive about our
:48:11. > :48:15.engagement. Mr Speaker, the agreement whth Iran
:48:16. > :48:18.was harder won and hugely ilportant, but to remove the friend of Iran
:48:19. > :48:23.gaining nuclear weapons, and to start a process of normalishng
:48:24. > :48:31.lesions with Tehran. Even those who initially opposed the deal, such as
:48:32. > :48:35.premised Netanyahu, I know trging present electron not a terrorist up.
:48:36. > :48:41.Can I urge the Secretary of State to join those calls today, and say that
:48:42. > :48:47.Lydia was honoured by sides? -- urging President elect from.
:48:48. > :48:53.I repeat that we believe in this deal. We have made progress
:48:54. > :48:59.recently, recently reopening the UK embassy in Tehran. The ambassador is
:49:00. > :49:04.now in post and doing a verx good job. If other people want to
:49:05. > :49:12.volunteer for that post, thdy are always welcome to. He is ushng that
:49:13. > :49:16.opportunity to develop our relations with Tehran, which I believd will be
:49:17. > :49:21.calm of increasing importance in the years ahead. That is as point will
:49:22. > :49:28.make to our friends in Washhngton and worldwide.
:49:29. > :49:32.Topical number one. My immediate priority is to build a
:49:33. > :49:37.strong religion ship with the incoming US administration with the
:49:38. > :49:42.aim of making progress in otr shared goals on every level of the
:49:43. > :49:46.international agenda. Foremost among these are, banqueting diets,
:49:47. > :49:53.responding to the crisis in Syria, and standing firm against the
:49:54. > :49:57.challenge of Russia. According to figures releasdd last
:49:58. > :50:02.week Scotland has taken on over a third of the Syrian refugees taken
:50:03. > :50:05.in by the UK today. How does the Foreign Secretary explain the UK's
:50:06. > :50:14.shirking of its responsibilhties to its counterparts in Europe?
:50:15. > :50:16.I must reject the assertion or the implication by the honourable member
:50:17. > :50:22.that this country is not dohng enough to help the people of Syria
:50:23. > :50:26.or the region. As he knows, this country is the second-biggest donor
:50:27. > :50:32.to the humanitarian crisis hn that region, and we can be proud of our
:50:33. > :50:36.record giving Unitarians support and offering sanctuary and refugee in
:50:37. > :50:43.the UK. Israel is often criticised over its
:50:44. > :50:49.strong border controls with Gaza, yet Egypt has closed its border
:50:50. > :50:51.completely. And the Minister update me on any discussions we had had
:50:52. > :50:55.with Egypt on their border with Gaza?
:50:56. > :51:01.This is an important point, the challenges Egypt is facing `
:51:02. > :51:08.extremism is something the TK is supporting. Over the longer term, do
:51:09. > :51:14.way plans for the border to reopen. Of water, many of the tunnel systems
:51:15. > :51:23.used to smuggle into how mass, was equipment to be used against Israel.
:51:24. > :51:28.The effort must be organised to make sure that is curtailed.
:51:29. > :51:31.It is reported that the Fordign Secretary had to write to the
:51:32. > :51:35.Culture Secretary actor she suggested the UK should abandon
:51:36. > :51:47.hosting the European capital of culture. My constituents spdnt a lot
:51:48. > :51:55.of time and money preparing the bed for this. Has the secretary received
:51:56. > :52:00.an applied his letter, and WorldCom edition go ahead as planned?
:52:01. > :52:05.We may be leaving the EU, btt we're not leaving Europe, and we certainly
:52:06. > :52:09.will not leave the EU for a time to come. Until that time we ard fully
:52:10. > :52:14.paid up members, and is my view that we should take part to the full
:52:15. > :52:18.including in such cultural cooperation as the honourable member
:52:19. > :52:25.describes. And we will do so, and we will continue to take part hn such
:52:26. > :52:31.cultural adventures beyond our exit from the European Union.
:52:32. > :52:40.Does the Foreign Secretary believe that a radical free marketedr,
:52:41. > :52:48.opponent of Maastricht, supporter of that sure, but the bad egg. So will
:52:49. > :52:57.he get his cetaceans to France were few on for his progress in the
:52:58. > :53:01.French presidential election so far? I thought the honourable gentleman
:53:02. > :53:09.was about to make his job application!
:53:10. > :53:13.It is wonderful to hear of ` senior French politician who is married to
:53:14. > :53:28.a British wife, as far as I understand the matter. Sorrx, a
:53:29. > :53:31.Welsh wife, indeed. I hesit`te to blight Mr Fillon's chances by
:53:32. > :53:42.offering them my congratulations or subordinate the stage.
:53:43. > :53:45.Bedouin village was due to be demolished today, despite the
:53:46. > :53:52.Bedouin living there since they were wrong Willie displays from their own
:53:53. > :53:55.land in 1956. This expansion of settlements in the West Bank. I
:53:56. > :54:00.worked on Gazza years ago at the time of the Oslo accords, so what a
:54:01. > :54:06.century on, what is the most doing to get us back contract?
:54:07. > :54:12.I just want to confirm if this camp is within the Israel? It is. The
:54:13. > :54:16.rules are different depending on whether the cancer within the West
:54:17. > :54:23.Bank or Israel proper. Another blessed, there must be conshstency
:54:24. > :54:26.at the cancer going to be moved I visited a camp the last timd I was
:54:27. > :54:35.there, and there will be making a statement on this in due tile.
:54:36. > :54:38.Following the visit recentlx to the Western Balkans, what assessment has
:54:39. > :54:47.it made of the UK role in providing stability to that area?
:54:48. > :54:51.The UK, as honourable members, have played a crucial role in thd
:54:52. > :54:55.conflict in former Yugoslavha and are bringing an end to that
:54:56. > :55:00.conflict. I can tell hammer that there are people across that region
:55:01. > :55:07.who look to us for encouragdments, and in the autumn we will bd hosting
:55:08. > :55:12.a Western Balkans summit in London in 2018 to try and encouragd further
:55:13. > :55:17.stability in that region. There are few things more
:55:18. > :55:21.patriotically and paying yotr taxes. But the Foreign Office and network
:55:22. > :55:25.of tax savings that shield some individuals from paying thehr fair
:55:26. > :55:31.share. Will the Foreign Offhce said a deadline to make sure fordign
:55:32. > :55:36.transaction should have the same transparency as here in the UK?
:55:37. > :55:40.This Government has done an enormous amount in terms of tackling tax
:55:41. > :55:46.evasion, and collected enorlous amounts of funds as a result of
:55:47. > :55:50.tackling those. I would say to him that these matters, ultimatdly, are
:55:51. > :55:54.matters for the Treasury, and I m sure he will make those questions at
:55:55. > :56:04.Treasury questions. Perhaps despite the fantasthc
:56:05. > :56:08.efforts of campaigns like the Raina 's campaign from Paignton zoo the
:56:09. > :56:14.decline in endangered specids is alarming particularly of thd African
:56:15. > :56:17.elephant and Raina. Given the need for more international efforts, can
:56:18. > :56:26.the Minister confirm the outcomes of the recent Hanoi conference. I'm
:56:27. > :56:28.grateful to my honourable friend, the secretary of state for the
:56:29. > :56:31.environment has been taking the lead in Hanoi, in urging the
:56:32. > :56:41.international committee to take tougher measures against eldphant
:56:42. > :56:45.and Raina poachers. In the late 1990s there were 1.2 million
:56:46. > :56:51.elephants in the world, in @frica, now they are down to 300,000, it has
:56:52. > :56:58.reduced 120,000 since 2010. It is a catastrophic loss for Afric` and for
:56:59. > :57:16.the world. The UK leading the fight back. The Prime Minister will attend
:57:17. > :57:22.the council leaders summit `s a guest of honour next month `nd she
:57:23. > :57:33.intends to you due June 18 two push for greater information sharing from
:57:34. > :57:38.Saudi led coalitions in orddr to get a full understanding of thehr regard
:57:39. > :57:43.for international protocol? Prime Minister is I think the first female
:57:44. > :57:49.Prime Minister to be invited to attend the GCC in the Gulf `nd it
:57:50. > :57:56.emphasises the very strong relations we have with that area. And of
:57:57. > :58:00.course this government doing everything it can to satisfx itself
:58:01. > :58:03.of the compliance of Gulf countries notably Saudi Arabia with the
:58:04. > :58:14.principles of international humanitarian law.
:58:15. > :58:19.I wonder what efforts my honourable friend has made to ensure that
:58:20. > :58:25.British citizens of Indian descent are able to exchange their loney
:58:26. > :58:28.following devaluation? Mr Speaker as my honourable friend will know if it
:58:29. > :58:32.is for the Indian government and the reserve bank of India to define what
:58:33. > :58:35.is legal tender. I can say however that the FCO has updated its travel
:58:36. > :58:45.advice advising British nathonals travelling to India monitor this
:58:46. > :58:59.closely. What is the Foreign Secretary doing to secure the
:59:00. > :59:02.release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe. I can tell you we
:59:03. > :59:04.are in contact with the reigning government, it has been raised by
:59:05. > :59:10.the Prime Minister and buy lyself the Foreign Minister, and mx
:59:11. > :59:15.honourable friend has only recently have meetings on that very subject.
:59:16. > :59:22.It remains a matter that is utmost priority for this command and we are
:59:23. > :59:29.doing our level best to resolve it. Talks on the future of Cyprts have
:59:30. > :59:33.broken down without agreement. As one of the guarantor parties can the
:59:34. > :59:38.Minister advise what the government will be doing to try to influence
:59:39. > :59:43.and try to allow the talks to continue. , it is an exaggeration to
:59:44. > :59:46.say they have totally broken down but they are stored for the moment
:59:47. > :59:51.and we are giving every possible support we can to the talks
:59:52. > :59:54.continuing in the hope that they can still yet reach a successful
:59:55. > :00:00.conclusion for the reunific`tion of the island. Can the Minister assure
:00:01. > :00:06.us that the UK will continud to assist in the governing of dvidence
:00:07. > :00:11.for war crimes, crimes against unity in Syria, so that eventuallx those
:00:12. > :00:16.responsible for these terrible atrocities will be brought to boot.
:00:17. > :00:18.I can reassure the right honourable lady who I know has personally
:00:19. > :00:24.campaigned on this very isste for many years that the issue initiative
:00:25. > :00:26.we started in September at the UN General Assembly continues to be
:00:27. > :00:29.working very well with the Belgians and other countries. We are
:00:30. > :00:35.gathering evidence that need and I'm confident that in due coursd we will
:00:36. > :00:42.be bringing Daesh operatives to justice. All countries of the EU
:00:43. > :00:47.with the exception of the UK have now resumed direct flights to Sharm
:00:48. > :00:52.el-Sheikh, which is so vital to the Egyptian economy. What more does the
:00:53. > :00:56.Egyptian government have to do to persuade the comments to resume
:00:57. > :01:04.direct flights? I'm grateful to my right honourable friend, thhs has
:01:05. > :01:11.been a very difficult matter, the Egyptian government stronglx
:01:12. > :01:15.desirous of visually flights to Sharm el-Sheikh but unfortunately we
:01:16. > :01:19.are not yet able to do so. The best I can say is that consultathons and
:01:20. > :01:25.work is still going on betwden our two government sent between our
:01:26. > :01:30.security services to give the UK Government the reassurance that it
:01:31. > :01:33.needs. In South Africa black people were not able to vote, all political
:01:34. > :01:38.opposition was outlawed, different races couldn't even get married In
:01:39. > :01:42.Israel, there is freedom of movement, assembly and speech, all
:01:43. > :01:47.governmental institutions are integrated, all citizens can vote,
:01:48. > :01:51.so is it not a complete disgrace and insult to the Middle East's only
:01:52. > :01:56.democracy and the black people who suffered under apartheid to hear
:01:57. > :02:03.Israel described as aparthehd as we heard a former minister do so this
:02:04. > :02:09.afternoon? He makes a Paintdd Black separate points and then we need to
:02:10. > :02:12.consider both in their... Distinctively. I will be visiting
:02:13. > :02:15.South Africa in the New Year and I'll be looking at some of the
:02:16. > :02:18.election process is that take place there. We are supporters of both
:02:19. > :02:23.countries but in the case of visual it is a democratic country hn a very
:02:24. > :02:29.tough impaired in Britain stands by our friendship and long may that
:02:30. > :02:34.continue. What discussions has the government had with its counterparts
:02:35. > :02:39.about the very dangerous political crisis in the Democratic Republic of
:02:40. > :02:46.Congo? I visited the DeOssid during the summer and -- DeOssie and I pay
:02:47. > :02:50.tribute to the working has done in this area and as with other parts of
:02:51. > :02:54.Africa there is a president is not wishing to honour the Consthtution
:02:55. > :03:01.and wishing to stay longer. We do request the recognises the
:03:02. > :03:04.constitution. We need the electoral commission to continue its work so
:03:05. > :03:13.fresh elections: the present we have that happen soon. My constituent
:03:14. > :03:21.Helen Vives faces allegations in Kenya that she conspired to poison
:03:22. > :03:26.her father. Can the Minister reassure me they are making
:03:27. > :03:32.enquiries? , Crow he will bd aware this is a very delicate casd indeed.
:03:33. > :03:38.We are providing consul support for this. I do not believe it is in
:03:39. > :03:42.anybody's best interest to dxpand any further on the details, I would
:03:43. > :03:48.be more than happy to meet with him directly to this to tell hil is
:03:49. > :03:51.happening. Demand today has been exceptionally high, I am sorry to
:03:52. > :04:03.disappoint many colleagues, we must now move on. We come now to the Ten
:04:04. > :04:05.Minute Rule motion. We were in a moment do so. Colleagues le`ving the