Written question asked by Angus Robertson (Scottish National Party) on Thursday, 2 May 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 May 2002. It was answered by Ben Bradshaw (Labour) on Monday, 13 May 2002 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Belorussian Government about the Iraqi military delegation visit to Minsk in October 2001; what reports he has received about (a) the aim and (b) the outcome of the visit; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Belorussian Government about the Iraqi military delegation visit to Minsk in October 2001; what reports he has received about (a) the aim and (b) the outcome of the visit; and if he will make a statement. [55154] Mr. Bradshaw: We are aware of press reports from October 2001 that an Iraqi delegation visited Belarus to receive military training and purchase arms. We view any report of actual or proposed transfers of weapons or weapons-related materials to Iraq--by any country--with serious concern. We have no doubt about Iraq's desire to acquire sophisticated weapons systems. We have expressed our concern about the October 2001 reports to the Belarusian Government and raised our concerns at the United Nations Iraq Sanctions Committee. We made clear in both instances our expectation that the Belarusian Government will continue to take all possible steps to ensure that arms sales and other transactions that violate UN Security Council resolutions will not take place.

Secondary information