Written question asked by Jeremy Corbyn (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 February 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 March 2003. It was answered by Mike O'Brien (Labour) on Monday, 3 March 2003 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 guarantees of autonomy have been offered to the Kurdish parties in Northern Iraq after any US-led invasion has taken place;what guarantees have been given by the government of Turkey that they will respect the Kurdish autonomous region of Iraq following any US-led invasion.

Answer: Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what guarantees of autonomy have been offered to the Kurdish parties in Northern Iraq after any US-led invasion has taken place; [100280] (2) what guarantees have been given by the Government of Turkey that they will respect the Kurdish autonomous region of Iraq following any US- led invasion. [100279] Mr. Mike O'Brien: I am not aware of any guarantees given to the Kurdish administrations in Northern Iraq by Turkey. But the UK is committed to the maintenance of Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its current borders. The only secure long-term future for the Kurds and other minority groups in Northern Iraq is as part of a stable, peaceful Iraq, which gives them a negotiated degree of autonomy.

Secondary information