Results 1-18 of 18 for iraq speaker:Richard Spring

[Mr. Martin Caton in the Chair] — Middle East (24 Jun 2009)

Richard Spring: I thank the hon. Gentleman for the courtesy of his comments. He might not be aware that although a substantial percentage of Iraqi refugees in Syria are Christians, they come from a variety of faiths, but do not live in separate conditions. It is interesting how the pervasive culture of Syria has influenced them, and that the tensions that existed between those communities in Iraq have...

[Mr. Martin Caton in the Chair] — Middle East (24 Jun 2009)

Richard Spring: ...empire, the founding of the state of Israel, and the construction and subsequent loss of the Suez canal. The list could go on. This is not a moment to discuss the merits of the recent invasion of Iraq. Suffice it to say that it impaired a number of our relationships in the region. Today, violence on the streets of Gaza inflames passions on the streets of our country. Whether we like it or...

[Mr. Martin Caton in the Chair] — Middle East (24 Jun 2009)

Richard Spring: .... The criticism of the border crossings, to which I alluded, has substantially evaporated and help has been given to Syria to achieve that. Exploration of greater commercial ties between Syria and Iraq continues to take place. Two other facets of Syrian life bear examination. Syria has developed a culture that is unique in the region, perhaps because its history has been marked by so many...

Orders of the Day: Foreign Affairs and Defence (12 Nov 2007)

Richard Spring: ...comments on Israel and his repulsive observations about the holocaust make Israel understandably anxious. The United States has indicated that Iranian weaponry is being used against soldiers in Iraq. We do not know what the exact provenance of that weaponry might be, but it is undoubtedly being used, and the United States may use that as an opportunity for some sort of attack on Iran in...

Point of Order: Iraq and the wider Middle East (24 Jan 2007)

Richard Spring: ...rumours of a coup d'état and real instability. At best, if the situation calms down, the economic impact on the country and the threat of further emigration is greater than ever. The situation in Iraq has been well rehearsed and, as far as Palestine and Israel are concerned, we know that there are still enormous tensions in the west bank between Fatah and Hamas. We are in an...

Kosovo (4 May 2004)

Mr Richard Spring: ...in Kosovo. One point has been echoed by everyone this morning, most powerfully by the hon. Member for Manchester, Central (Tony Lloyd), and that is that the horrific and controversial events in Iraq and the middle east have pushed Kosovo out of the international news, save when tragic events such as those in Mitrovica occur. We hope, however, that it has not fallen entirely out of...

Defence Policy (27 Oct 2003)

Mr Richard Spring: ...national institutions, but the one institution that continues to inspire unqualified respect and affection is our armed forces. By way of an example, whatever controversy may have surrounded the Iraq war, nobody could dispute that, militarily, it was extraordinarily successful. Our front-line soldiers performed magnificently, and their conduct in post-conflict Iraq has been marked by a...

Estimates Day — [2nd Allotted Day] — Supplementary Estimates, 2002–2003 — Foreign and Commonwealth Office — War Against Terrorism (11 Mar 2003)

Mr Richard Spring: ...title, "Foreign Policy Aspects of the War Against Terrorism", does not do justice to the wide range of issues covered by the Committee; but we should recognise that the issues of global terrorism, Iraq, Afghanistan and the middle east peace process which are dealt with in the bulk of the document—albeit indirectly in some instances—are interrelated, and that their impact on...

Estimates Day — [2nd Allotted Day] — Supplementary Estimates, 2002–2003 — Foreign and Commonwealth Office — War Against Terrorism (11 Mar 2003)

Mr Richard Spring: My point is that there is already evidence of the Iraqis' supporting terrorist groups. The possibility of a marriage at some time is entirely likely given the desire of organisations such as al-Qaeda to obtain these weapons, and their wealth. I suggest that the hon. Gentleman read a speech made in the other place by Lady Nicholson about the horrific attacks on Iraqis—particularly Marsh...

Estimates Day — [2nd Allotted Day] — Supplementary Estimates, 2002–2003 — Foreign and Commonwealth Office — War Against Terrorism (11 Mar 2003)

Mr Richard Spring: ...to the hon. Gentleman for making that point. There have been some additions to Dr. Blix's original report. That simply strengthens the argument that, apart from that which we know exists in Iraq—we do not believe that it has been destroyed or abandoned—there may well be other elements in its armoury that we have yet to discover. Despite all this, many argue that the inspectors...

Equity Release Mortgages (14 Jan 2003)

Mr Richard Spring: ...our concerns during the passage of the International Criminal Court Bill and tabling amendments to deal with them, the Government appeared unwilling to listen. The build-up to a possible war in Iraq puts the spotlight firmly on such matters. It will come as no surprise to hon. Members that we are not alone in our concerns about the ICC and how it will operate in practice. Reference has...

Equity Release Mortgages (14 Jan 2003)

Mr Richard Spring: ...or soldiers—not those from countries that scorn all law—have to answer to such a political body. The Minister is aware that if it proves necessary for military action to take place in Iraq, and if it is carried out without the backing of a specific UN resolution, British soldiers who are simply doing their jobs could face prosecution under the terms of the court. We supported...

European Affairs (11 Dec 2002)

Mr Richard Spring: ...points. My right hon. Friend the Member for Devizes has freely acknowledged recently the constructive role played by the Foreign Secretary in securing the Security Council resolution in respect of Iraq. However, nowhere has an ethical dimension of foreign policy been more blown to smithereens than by the way the Foreign Secretary and the former Minister for Europe have conducted themselves...

Written Answers — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Iraq (10 Jul 2001)

Mr Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent decision by the United Nations Security Council to delay a decision on sanctions against Iraq for another five months.

Opposition Day: Foreign and Security Policy (25 Apr 2001)

Mr Richard Spring: ...from Europe—which is the threat—the Baltic states' situation could be considerably worse? I turn to the issue of human rights. Many areas of the world, such as China, Burma and Iraq, suffer oppression, and our position remains clear. James Mawdsley, the courageous and defiant human rights activist imprisoned in Burma, recently joined the Conservative party because of the...

Estimates Day: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (15 Mar 2001)

Mr Richard Spring: I understand the point that the hon. Gentleman makes, which he also made in his speech, but I disagree with him, and I shall address the issue in a moment. Iraq, which had developed chemical and biological weapons and associated delivery means and was close to having a nuclear capability before the 1991 Gulf war, may have reconstituted those efforts since the departure of the United Nations...

Oral Answers to Questions — Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Iraq (7 Nov 2000)

Mr Richard Spring: Does the Minister agree that Iraq's humanitarian predicament must be viewed in the light of its treatment of 605 mostly Kuwaiti prisoners, including women and students? What pressures can be brought to bear to get the Iraqis to provide information, even information such as whether those prisoners are dead or alive? Does he agree that humanity and decency demand that?

Business of the House (20 Jan 1994)

Mr Richard Spring: Will my right hon. Friend urgently consider having an early debate on Iraq and its leader, the dictator Saddam Hussein, so that public opinion can be satisfied that there is very little support for the scandalous views of the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galloway)?