Mike Hancock News
Update on the Middle East and Nort Africa from Alistair Burt
3 June 2011
Dear Colleague,
Further to my previous messages, and as Parliament is in recess, I thought it would be helpful to send you another update on the latest situation across the Middle East and North Africa. There is clearly no let up in activity throughout the region.
INFORMAL BRIEFING
I would like to invite colleagues to an informal briefing on Tuesday 7th June at 17:00 in the Large Ministerial Conference Room below the Chamber in the House of Commons. Please note this would take place even if there is a Ministerial statement on the day, to cover areas not the subject of the statement. I am aware that a number of colleagues have been in the region over the recess - their views and insights would be particularly welcome. And on this occasion I would also be pleased to brief staff of Members, but on the same confidential basis.
LIBYA
We continue to make significant progress on Libya. Qadhafi is in hiding and defections and desertions from the Libyan regime continue. On 30 May reports emerged of a group of as many as 120 military officials defecting from Qadhafi's side in recent days. We remain strongly committed to increasing the pressure on his regime:
Militarily - Airstrikes have further degraded his ability to attack and besiege civilians. On 1 June the North Atlantic Council agreed to extend NATO's operation by a further 90 days, effective from 27 June.
Diplomatically and politically - The international community has continued to demonstrate a strong, united front.
At the G8 summit in Deauville on 25-26 May, participants were united in their agreement that Qadhafi has lost all legitimacy and must go. The UK led calls supporting a political transition that reflects the will of the Libyan people and welcomed the National Transitional Council's (NTC) "Road Map on Libya" as an important contribution to the transition process.
The next Contact Group meeting in Abu Dhabi on 9 June on behalf of the UK. The aim isto build on the success of previous meetings by promoting further support for the NTC and emphasising the importance of the UN's role as the international lead on the political process.
ARABSAT stopped transmitting Libya state TV on its satellites at 0900 GMT on 17 May. This is a significant move forward and follows continued UK lobbying. Apart from sending a strong political signal of dwindling Arab patience with Qadhafi, it will disrupt the regime's ability to spread propaganda.
We welcome the work of the International Criminal Court in investigating crimes in Libya and note the Chief Prosecutor's request on 16 May for three arrest warrants. We look forward to the Commission of Inquiry's report which will be presented to the Human Rights Council on 6 June.
Economically - At the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 25 May, Member States unanimously agreed to intensify EU efforts to block access to resources and funding by Qadhafi's regime. In particular, the EU will continue its efforts to prevent the regime from replenishing its military arsenal and from recruiting mercenaries.
SYRIA
We continue to be extremely concerned by the ongoing violence and repression in Syria. Last week, working with our EU partners, the UK led efforts to agree EU sanctions against President Assad and 9 other individuals responsible for the violence and repression in Syria, bringing the total number of individuals subject to EU sanctions to 23. These sanctions send a powerful message to Syria and the wider international community that we will not tolerate violent internal repression and strongly believe that only meaningful reform will ensure long term stability in Syria.
In addition, as the Prime Minister said last week, the UK has been at the vanguard of pushing for a UN Security Council Resolution in New York, where we believe that the that the Security Council should send an unequivocal message of condemnation of the situation and call for urgent political reform.
In parallel, at last weekend's G8 Meeting, the UK, along with our partners, managed to secure language in the G8 Communique, which called on the Syrian leadership to "stop using force and intimidation against the Syrian people and to engage in dialogue and fundamental reforms in response to the legitimate expression of the demands of the Syrian people.
YEMEN
On 22 May GCC Foreign Ministers announced the suspension (but not withdrawal) of the GCC brokered initiative following President Saleh's refusal to sign. On 23 May clashes between tribes loyal to the Al-Ahmar family (the main opponents of the regime) and the regime developed into a full scale battle around the Al-Hamar compound in northern Sana'a. The Al-Hamar gained control of a number of important government buildings and during the clashes regime forces used tanks and artillery. A ceasefire appears to have broken down and fighting has resumed on 31 May. Fighting has also spread outside of Sana'a including reports of the use by Saleh of his air force to try to regain a military base taken by the Al-Hamar. Fighting has also occurred in Zanjibar (southern Yemen) between militants and security forces. There are reports that troops of General Ali Moshen's 1st Armoured Division are being sucked into the fighting in support of the Al-Hamar, but no sign yet that they are fully engaged in the fighting in Sana'a. Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 26 May confirming that we have reduced the staffing of British Embassy Sana'a to a level sufficient
only to work on the most pressing and vital British national interests in Yemen by temporarily removing four members of staff. The Italian Government has taken the decision to temporarily close their Embassy in Sana'a and the US Government has draw down numbers of staff at their Embassy.
Regime forces attacked protestors camped in Freedom Square in the city of Ta'iz on 30 May, most of the tents occupied by the protestors have been burnt and the Square cleared. Security forces used disproportionate force against peaceful and unarmed protestors. Latest reports from Ta'iz indicate numbers of dead in the 50's and rising making this the most devastating massacre of protestors so far. Security force operations continued on in Ta'iz on 31st with unconfirmed reports of a further 10 protestors killed. I issued a statement on 30 May, condemning in the strongest terms the violence in Ta'iz . The statement also made clear The Yemeni government and security forces must exercise restraint and fulfil their responsibility to protect the Yemeni people, and the fundamental rights and freedoms they are entitled to.
Opposition Joint Meetings Party (JMP) have formally withdrawn from the GCC initiative, this is not unexpected given that JMP need to avoid a complete split with the street who call for Saleh to step down immediately. However, the GCC brokered agreement offers the best chance for peace. We are supporting this whilst also working to organise a Contact Group (including UN, US, EU, GCC Secretary General, UAE and Saudis) as another means to encourage all sides to cease violence and to agree how to increase the pressure on President Saleh to finally sign the initiative, stand down and begin the transition process, in which we should also be engaged.
BAHRAIN
In Bahrain, the State of National Safety was lifted on June 1st. We are encouraged by HM The King's announcement for a comprehensive and inclusive National Dialogue to start on 1 July and reiterate our view that real political reform is the only way to guarantee long-term stability.
But while this is a time to build bridges between the different religious communities in Bahrain. We remain concerned by the reports of widespread human rights abuses and the harassment of the Shia community by Bahraini security forces. We call on the Government to take appropriate action against those who perpetrate such actions. The Foreign Secretary had a constructive meeting with the Crown Prince on 25 May. He made clear the UK's strong concern over the recent arrest of protestors and medical staff and the nature of the charges brought against them. Both the Foreign Secretary and the Crown Prince agreed on the need for a long-term political solution in Bahrain.
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
The UK fully supports President Obama's recent remarks that the Arab Spring makes progress on the MEPP more urgent. The Prime Minister made this clear when he met with President Obama during his recent visit to London on 25 May. Negotiations must re-start urgently on the basis of clear parameters including 1967 borders plus land swaps. We are pressing the parties to return to the table on this basis further to President Obama's recent speech.
The Prime Minister also made clear our position on Palestinian bid for UN recognition in September: "On the specific issue of U.N. recognition, the President is entirely right that in
the end the Palestinian state will only come about if the Palestinians and the Israelis can agree to it coming about. That is the vital process that has to take place. As for Britain, we don't believe the time for making a decision about the U.N. resolution is right yet. We want to discuss this within the European Union and try and maximize the leverage and pressure that the European Union can bring on both sides to get this vital process moving".
Colleagues will be aware that a reconciliation agreement was signed by Hamas and Fatah in Cairo on 3 May. The Foreign Secretary has made clear that we want to see reconciliation lead to the formation of a government that will advance the cause for peace by rejecting violence and committing to the peace process, building a Palestinian state that can help deliver security for Israel. We will judge a future Palestinian government by its actions and its readiness to work for peace. Our position towards Hamas has not changed.
If I can be of any further assistance, do contact me directly. We will continue to keep colleagues informed, as I am aware of the continuing interest of our constituents.
ALISTAIR BURT
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