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<p>I refer to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth
Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), to the House
on 4 March 2013, Official Report, columns 55-56WS. The Foreign Secretary announced
a new process by which we would be informed of visits that may qualify for special
mission status. The pilot process has improved the process for communicating and decision-making
in respect of visits that may qualify for special mission status. Since the pilot's
inception, we have received six such requests. There are no requests outstanding.</p><p>The
former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,
my right hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt), confirmed
to the House on 12 July 2013, Official Report, columns 427W and 429W, that two of
the requests which were granted, related to visits by Lieutenant General Benny Gantz
of the Israeli Defence Forces and Doron Almog, Prime Minister Netanyahu's Chief of
Staff for Bedouin Status improvement. In view of the confidentiality of diplomatic
exchanges, we have no plans to publish further details about requests that have been
granted or refused. But if those applying for special mission status wish to announce
the details of their visit to the UK, they are of course at liberty to do so. <br>All
applications for special mission status are considered carefully in view of both obligations
incumbent upon the UK under customary international law and our policy of ending impunity
for the most serious of international crimes and a commitment to the protection of
human rights. Above this, it is for the courts to decide on the legal consequences
of any decision to grant special mission status.</p>
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