Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Warsi (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 March 2014.

Iraq

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Iraq about the security challenges facing the Turkmen community in Iraq and the alleged failure of Iraq’s courts to consider cases relating to the seizure of Turkmen land and properties; and whether, following the passage of a Resolution of the European Parliament drawing attention to the situation of the Turkmen, they have discussed what action might be taken with the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs.[HL5655]

Answer: We meet regularly with members of the Iraqi Turkmen community both in the UK and Iraq, and are aware of the security and legal challenges they face, including those relating to land and property. We have called both bilaterally and through the EU for the Government of Iraq to provide adequate security for all of Iraq’s religious and ethnic minority communities. We have not discussed the situation for Iraq’s Turkmen community directly with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs.

Secondary information