Tag: Baroness Helic

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2015-11-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the influx of refugees and migrants into the Western Balkans on the security situation in that region, and what discussions they have had with (1) NATO, and (2) the EU, about that issue.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The British Government makes ongoing assessments of the impact of refugees and migrants on the security situation in the Western Balkans. There have been limited discussions in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) on migration as the issue is largely a national and EU competence. NATO can address some of the causes of migration by helping to improve the security and resilience of countries in the region through its partnership frameworks and Defence Capacity Building activity. We have been in regular contact with the EU on addressing all aspects of the crisis. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Teresa May), participated in an EU Conference with Western Balkans and other countries in Luxembourg on 8 October, which agreed a comprehensive package of measures for dealing with the challenges of migration through the Eastern Mediterranean route. We consider it important that the actions agreed at this Conference, and other actions agreed between the EU and the Western Balkans – notably the 17-point Plan of 25 October – are implemented as soon as possible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2016-09-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Locarno Group was last convened.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The Locarno Group was formed in 2011. It consists of former senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and functions as a high-level advisory group for the Foreign Secretary – offering strategic support and challenge on foreign policy issues.

The Locarno Group has met formally on eight occasions, most recently on 26 January 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2015-11-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Bosnia-Herzegovina about the refugee and migrant crisis in the Western Balkans, and what provisions are in place to offer (1) UK, and (2) EU, support to the government of Bosnia-Herzegovina in the event of an influx of refugees and migrants into that country.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are in contact with all governments of the region on the migration crisis. On 23 September, the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), pledged a UK contribution of £308,078 to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s Sarajevo office for contingency planning. This was part of a wider pledge of £3.1 million of aid to international agencies to support Western Balkans countries affected by the migration crisis. On 1 November, the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), announced a further £5 million of humanitarian aid to the countries on the Eastern Mediterranean route. We are also contributing substantially through EU assistance programmes in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The EU has provided €8.5 million of migration-related assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some of this has been spent on technical assistance for effectively managing migration and asylum. It has also been spent on supply of equipment and on the construction of a reception facility for migrants. The EU is due to spend a further €2 million to support BiH’s border police.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2016-09-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Saudi-led coalition regarding attacks on medical facilities in Yemen, and what their policy is on that issue.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are aware of reports of alleged airstrikes on medical facilities in Yemen. It is important that the Saudi-led Coalition conducts thorough and conclusive investigations into incidents where it is alleged that International Humanitarian Law has been breached. They have the best insight into their own military procedures and will be able to conduct the most thorough and conclusive investigations. This is the standard we set ourselves and our allies. The Saudi led Coalition Joint Investigations Assessment Team announced the outcome of 8 investigations on 4 August.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2015-11-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the capacity of institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina to cope with a potential influx of refugees and migrants, in the light of the political and security situation in that country.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) earlier this month gave a positive assessment of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)’s contingency planning, particularly in Bijeljina and Trebenje, which are two areas that could be at risk of overspill. The British Government remains concerned about BiH’s limited capacity to register an influx of arrivals, and to conduct security screening, including through the use of biometrics. We welcome the fact that BiH and the UNHCR have identified the establishment of reception centres close to likely border crossing points as a priority, and look forward to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s provision of a comprehensive needs assessment to inform planning for external support.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2016-09-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they plan to give to the Commission on Rakhine State led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We have long advocated for action to tackle the problems of Rakhine for the benefit of all communities, and to end the mistreatment of the Muslim Rohingya minority. We therefore welcome the establishment of this Commission. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Reading West (Alok Sharma), issued a statement to this effect on 25 August. On 14 September he also held a telephone conversation with Mr Annan in which he conveyed the UK’s strong support for his appointment and mandate. We are clear that this is a Burmese conceived and led initiative, and that is as it should be. The UK is providing funding to support the work of the Kofi Annan Foundation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2015-11-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 4 November (HL2983), what representations they have made to the governments of (1) Saudi Arabia, and (2) the United Arab Emirates, about their assistance in ensuring immediate humanitarian access for non-governmental organisations in Yemen, and what has been the outcome of those representations.

Baroness Verma

The UK continues to work with the Governments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on improving access for humanitarian aid and workers. We are supporting the work of the UN Special Envoy to convene peace talks in the coming weeks and to negotiate a lasting ceasefire as the best way to improve humanitarian access.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2016-09-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 24 November 2015 (HL3593), whether it is their policy to continue the UK–Germany Initiative on Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The Government remains firmly committed to the initiative, now adopted by the EU, designed to inject momentum into Bosnia and Herzegovina’s stalling reform process. We continue to work closely with EU, and other international partners, in order to help build a more stable, secure and prosperous BiH.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2015-11-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the UN Security Council decisions on Women, Peace and Security, whether they have made representations to the UN that future peace conferences or peace negotiations on the situation in Syria should include a direct role for Syrian women’s groups.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The second meeting of the International Syria Support Group in Vienna on 14 November agreed an outline timetable for Syrian peace negotiations, leading to transitional governance, a new constitution and elections within eighteen months. The International Syria Support Group will now meet on a regular basis, in parallel with Syrian-led discussions facilitated by UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan De Mistura, to take forward this process.

Ministers and senior officials have made regular representations to the UN Special Envoy and other UN officials to impress upon them the importance of the inclusion of Syrian women’s groups in the peace process. We continue to encourage the moderate Syrian opposition to be gender-inclusive and were pleased that a senior female activist accompanied the Syrian National Coalition President, Khaled Khoja, on his official visit to the UK earlier this month. Our programmes of support to grass roots peace-building initiatives and civil society groups inside Syria support this objective, and are designed to ensure that Syrian women’s voices are heard and that they are represented in political negotiations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2016-09-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the security and political stability of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the planned referendum in the entity of Republika Srpska on 25 September.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The Government remains concerned about the increasing tensions over the Republika Srpska referendum planned for 25 September. We, together with international partners, are calling on all parties to find a way forward that is line with Bosnia and Herzegovina’s constitution and the Constitutional Court’s rulings.