Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Germany to encourage it to extradite to Belgium the Iranian diplomat arrested in connection with the planned terrorist bomb attack on the meeting of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Paris on 30 June.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We have not received or made specific representations from other governments on the arrest of an Iranian diplomat in Germany but we are concerned by reports that an Iranian diplomat may have been involved with a plot against a conference in Paris. We work closely with our European partners on security and counter-terrorism issues.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of the expulsion of Russian diplomatic staff following the Novichok nerve agent case, they plan to expel Iranian diplomatic staff following the planned terrorist bomb attack on a meeting of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Paris on 30 June; if so, when; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We understand that European partners’ investigations into this incident are ongoing. We continue to work closely with our European partners on security and counter-terrorism issues.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken with European allies, including Germany and Belgium, to ensure Iran cannot use its embassies to harbour suspected terrorists.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We work closely with our European partners on security and counter-terrorism issues. We are clear that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations requires that the premises of a diplomatic mission are not used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as described in the Convention or by other rules of general international law.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the arrest of an Iranian diplomat in Germany in connection with the planned terrorist bomb attack on a meeting of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Paris on 30 June.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We are concerned by reports that an Iranian diplomat may have been involved with a plot against a conference in Paris, and understand that investigations are ongoing in a number of European countries. We are not aware at this stage of a link to the UK.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the principle that all Cypriots should benefit equally from any potential income from oil and gas reserves adjacent to the island of Cyprus; and what is their policy towards the proposals for oil and gas sharing made by EU Member States, including Greece and Italy, and Israel, which may prevent Turkish Cypriots from benefiting equally from such income.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK has long recognised the sovereign right of the Republic of Cyprus to exploit the natural resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone, and we want to see exploration go ahead. We believe Cyprus' hydrocarbons should be developed for the benefit of all Cypriots, and urge all parties to look for ways by which the development of hydrocarbons can support the search for a settlement.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to continue to honour the UK’s responsibilities as a guarantor power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee; whether they consider the Treaty still to be binding on the UK and other signatories; and if not, why the Treaty failed; and (1) when, and (2) where, any member of the Cabinet, including the Prime Minister, has met with (a) the President of Cyprus, or (b) the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, in the last 30 years.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government considers the Treaty of Guarantee to be binding on all its signatories. The UK's principal responsibility under the Treaty of Guarantee is to recognise and guarantee the independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Cyprus. The Government fulfils this responsibility through supporting the UN-facilitated settlement process, which is aimed at achieving a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality as defined by the relevant Security Council resolutions. Information on meetings between members of the Cabinet and the Leaders of the two Cypriot communities in the last 30 years is not held centrally and could only therefore be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Prime Minister met with President Anastasiades in London on 17 April 2018 during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and more recently in the margins of the Western Balkans summit in Sofia on 17 May 2018. The Foreign Secretary last met with the Leaders of the two Cypriot communities at the Conference on Cyprus in Crans Montana, Switzerland on 27 June 2017.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the extent to which Russian oligarchs have been able to acquire Republic of Cyprus nationality, (2) the extent to which such acquisitions enable those individuals to obtain visa-free access to the European Union, (3) whether EU arrangements highlight any inequity with which the EU treats the Turkish Cypriots on the island of Cyprus, and (4) whether Brexit will enable the UK to change its policies towards the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The grant of nationality is exclusively a matter for individual states to decide in line with their law and procedures. Under EU law, any Cypriot holding a Republic of Cyprus passport enjoys equal rights of free movement in the EU, whether they are Greek or Turkish Cypriot origin. In line with the wider international community (except Turkey), the UK does not recognise the self-declared “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” as an independent state. Several UN Security Council Resolutions and other multilateral agreements also limit links between UK and the north. Our departure from the European Union does not alter our obligations in respect of such agreements. We continue to believe that a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus is the best means of resolving the difficulties caused by partition of the island.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Matthew Kidd, the British High Commissioner to the Republic of Cyprus, was acting on ministerial instructions when he publicly stated that recognition of the TRNC would be “dangerous”; whether they have repudiated recognition of the identity of Turkish Cypriots; and whether they intend to take any action, including disciplinary action.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Whilst the Government recognises the Turkish Cypriot community, we do not recognise the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". The Government is bound by relevant UN Security Council Resolutions condemning the Turkish Cypriot unilateral declaration of independence from the Republic of Cyprus. In a recent interview the British High Commissioner to Cyprus commented on how best to create conditions of security for the inhabitants of Cyprus, including the Turkish Cypriots. As he said, the Government continues to believe that a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus is the best means of resolving the difficulties caused by partition of the island for all its inhabitants, including matters relating to security. The High Commissioner enjoys the full and total confidence of Ministers.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by Amnesty International on 22 August concerning conditions imposed on political prisoners in Gohardasht and other Iranian prisons, particularly the finding that around 20 such political prisoners are on hunger-strike; and what representations they have made, or diplomatic pressure they have imposed, on the Iranian authorities to take such life-preserving action as may be necessary.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Reports about mistreatment of political prisoners in Iran are deeply concerning. I urge Iran to allow the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran access to the country in order to carry out an independent assessment of prison conditions and the wider human rights situation in the country.
Asked by: Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Independent Ulster Unionist - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 23 January (HL Deb, col 513) committing to action on the reported massacre of political prisoners by the government of Iran in 1988 if there were corroborated evidence, what assessment they have made of the report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, published on 14 August; and what action they intend to take in the light of that report.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and takes any allegations of extrajudicial killings seriously. Whilst at present we have no plans to raise the 1988 executions, we continue to take action with the international community to press for improvements on all human rights issues in Iran, including ending the death penalty and by supporting the work of the Special Rapporteur.