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114746

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Libya
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effects of fighting between government factions and Islamist rebels on populated residential areas of Benghazi, Libya.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	213507
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text We are gravely concerned by the fighting between rival militias in Benghazi since May 2014. The UN estimate that 15,000 people have been displaced from their homes around Benghazi, and there have been reports that over 200 people have been killed since mid-October. The fighting in Benghazi also undermines the United Nations-led peace talks and diminishes the prospects of a stable and prosperous Libya. At a meeting in Paris on 30 October 2014, the UK Special Envoy for Libya, Jonathan Powell, alongside his international counterparts, from the African Union, the Arab League, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Spain, Turkey and the United States, reaffirmed that there is no military solution to the current situation in Libya. They called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and a return to dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations. We are also concerned by reports that groups such as Ansar Al-Sharia (Benghazi), who have publicly rejected dialogue and the democratic process, are involved in the fighting. This underlines the threat posed by extremists to Libya and the wider region. answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood question first answered 11/11/2014 15:01:34 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

114748

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	China
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the Government has provided to the authorities in China since the earthquake in Yunnan province.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	213508
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>The Chinese authorities did not request any assistance following the earthquake in Yunnan Province. The Chinese Government dispatched over 2,500 soldiers to the region. Our consular team monitored the situation closely, and established that no British nationals were involved in the disaster.</p> answering member constituency East Devon answering member printed Mr Hugo Swire question first answered 11/11/2014 16:02:39 answering member 1408 label Biography information for Lord Swire
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

114750

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Nagorno Karabakh
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) his NATO counterparts, (b) the government of Azerbaijan and (c) the government of Armenia on relations between those two countries relating to the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	213506
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>I held meetings with both President Sargsyan of Armenia and President Aliyev of Azerbaijan during my visit to the South Caucasus on 3-5 November 2014. I welcomed the most recent meeting between the Presidents in Paris in October. I encouraged both sides to take a more constructive approach to the negotiations and the need for them to outline and prepare their respective populations for what a peace agreement, based on the Principles outlined by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, would entail. At some point in the future Armenians and Azerbaijanis will need to be able to live together peacefully, as they once did throughout the region, including in Nagorno-Karabakh itself.</p><p>The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), separately met the Presidents of both Armenia and Azerbaijan in September during the NATO Summit in Wales. During the Summit the US Secretary of State Kerry also held a further round of Minsk Group led discussions between the Presidents.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 17/11/2014 15:36:02 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

114752

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Macedonia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent support he has given to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for that country's candidacy to join the EU; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213525
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government supports Macedonia’s candidacy to join the EU and welcomes the latest European Commission assessment that, given its cumulative progress over several years, Macedonia continues to meet the political criteria in terms of alignment with the Acquis. However, that positive recommendation is increasingly overshadowed by serious concerns over lack of political dialogue, politicisation of institutions and services, and media freedom. The UK continues to believe that the best way to address these concerns is through the opening of accession negotiations and the scrutiny of individual chapters.</p><p>Over the coming year, the UK will be calling on all stakeholders in Macedonia to make efforts to resolve its political crisis, increase the space for independent voices, and develop a joint approach to a multi-ethnic society. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also uses its programme tools to contribute to these goals, such as supporting inter-ethnic education, increasing awareness of the concept of hate speech, and making information on government services open to all citizens.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 17/11/2014 15:36:42 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114754

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Moldova
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is giving to Moldova to integrate further with the EU; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213497
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text We work with EU partners to help Moldova bring its standards of governance in-line with EU best practice, including spreading greater transparency and accountability in the public sector and the promotion of EU standards and values. Key areas include tackling corruption and reform of the justice sector. The UK has led the implementation of a comprehensive EU communications campaign “Winning Hearts & Minds” which informs the public of the benefits of closer approximation with the EU and the benefits of projects that the EU and Member States have delivered in Moldova. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) contributes financially and acts as the lead coordinator. The FCO is working to get the best value from EU Twinning advisers, who provide technical advice in line ministries. In response to the embargoes imposed by the Russian Federation on the export of Moldovan fruit, vegetables and wine, the FCO brought a delegation from the Moldovan Ministry of Agriculture to the UK to demonstrate ways in which Moldova could improve its food safety standards and explore scope for diversifying its fruit and wine markets. answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 17/11/2014 17:39:32 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114755

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Greece: Macedonia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve bilateral relations between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213523
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>Bilateral political relations between Greece and Macedonia continue to be overshadowed by inconclusive UN talks on the name issue. The UK is not directly involved in this process but we urge both sides to engage constructively to find a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible. Ahead of the General Affairs Council in December, the UK’s position remains that we do not believe the name issue should be a block to beginning discussions with Macedonia over the negotiating framework for EU accession talks.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 17/11/2014 15:23:07 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114757

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Kosovo
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to assist Kosovo join international institutions; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213524
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The UK has led international efforts to secure Kosovo’s membership of international organisations. In consequence Kosovo has become a member of the World Bank (2009), the International Monetary Fund (2009), the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (2012), the Council of Europe Development Bank (2013) and most recently the Venice Commission (2014). The International Olympic Committee have also just granted provisional recognition to Kosovo. This follows lobbying by the UK during the London Olympics for Kosovo to be allowed to participate in the 2016 Olympics in Rio.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 17/11/2014 15:37:58 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114760

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Religious Freedom: Christianity
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policy of the needs identified by Open Doors in its report on freedom of religion and the persecution of Christians published in March 2014.
tabling member constituency	Belfast North
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Dodds
uin	213504
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) works closely with Open Doors. My Noble Friend, the Rt Hon. Baroness Anelay met with Open Doors in October. We value the regular updates they give us on the situation facing persecuted Christians across the world, in particular through their annual report, published in March 2014. We share the view expressed in the Open Doors report that the persecution of Christians and other minorities worldwide is increasing.</p><p>Freedom of religion or belief is a human rights priority for the Government. We take action to defend it in individual country situations and through multilateral bodies such as the UN and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. We fund project work and have been providing religious literacy training to our staff. We regularly urge governments to ensure the protection of all religious minorities. We encourage them to develop inclusive political systems that are for the good of all citizens.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 17/11/2014 16:10:42 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	1388 label Biography information for Lord Dodds of Duncairn

114761

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Serbia: Kosovo
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
uin	213522
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text The UK has been a strong supporter of the EU-facilitated Dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo, which has made significant progress over the last 18 months, including the historic 19 April 2013 agreement on beginning to normalise relations. The UK also helped ensure that the negotiating framework for Serbia’s EU accession process requires comprehensive normalisation of relations before Serbia can join the EU. Elections in Serbia and delays in forming the new Government of Kosovo have slowed the pace of implementation of the 19 April agreement this year, but some recent progress has been made on Integrated Border Management, Telecoms and Energy. In addition to the EU-facilitated Dialogue, Her Majesty's Government is also working on building better relationships, through promoting inter-ethnic commerce, encouraging more inter-ethnic dialogue, confidence building measures, and encouraging greater action from the government of Kosovo in recruiting ethnic-minorities into state institutions. answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 17/11/2014 15:39:40 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby

114763

registered interest
date	05/11/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress he has made on implementing the International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict; and what steps he is taking to help other governments prevent and prosecute those responsible for sexual violence in conflict.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Mr Frank Field
uin	213565
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2014 answer text <p>We are implementing the Protocol through advocacy, capacity building and national application. We have translated the Protocol into French, Spanish, Bosnian and Arabic to ensure it is as widely used as possible. We are developing a set of training materials to support its use, regional training modules on how to implement the Protocol in different local contexts, and a series of bespoke training packages. This includes developing long-term training, mentoring and support programmes on documentation and investigation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; providing financial support to the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Casa de La Mujer to implement the Protocol in Colombia; planning a year-long training project for local human rights NGOs and lawyers in Nepal and hosting launch events in Bosnia to raise the profile of the Protocol amongst government, judicial and NGO partners. These plans will help support governments and civil society organisations to be able to prevent and prosecute sexual violence crimes.</p> answering member constituency Rochford and Southend East answering member printed James Duddridge question first answered 13/11/2014 14:36:02 answering member 1559 label Biography information for Sir James Duddridge
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead