Written question asked by Win Griffiths (Labour) on Wednesday, 23 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 6 April 2005. It was answered by Denis MacShane (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 April 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the governments which his Department assesses as (a) sponsoring and (b) having links with terrorist organisations, indicating in each case the (i) nature and (ii) effectiveness of representations made to end these activities.

Answer: Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Governments which his Department assesses as (a) sponsoring and (b) having links with terrorist organisations, indicating in each case the (i) nature and (ii) effectiveness of representations made to end these activities. [224294] Mr. MacShane: The British Government do not compile lists of state sponsors of terrorism. We have serious concerns about the approach of the Iranian and the Syrian Governments to terrorism. We have pressed both countries to co-operate fully with international efforts to combat terrorism and not to support groups trying to undermine peace in the middle east by violent means. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised these concerns with the Syrian Foreign Minister in October 2004, and with the Secretary General of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Hassan Rouhani, in December 2004. Most latterly, my right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, reiterated our concerns to the Syrian ambassador on 7 March. Senior officials have also raised it with their Syrian and Iranian interlocutors.

Secondary information