FCO SPOKESMAN: WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER 1990
STATEMEN
RELEASED IN JERUSALEM
Spokesman made available the following statement released earlier today in Jerusalem:
"The British Foreign Secretary was misreported this morning in the local media. He did not say that Britain was opposed to a Palestinian State. The British position is well-known-it favours self-determination for the Palestinian people. Whether or not that leads to a Palestinian State is a matter for them and for negotiation. It is very regrettable that leading Palestinians should have taken this incorrect information and used it as a reason for calling off their talks with the Foreign Secretary. They are missing the opportunity to put the views of their people to someone who has consistently stressed the importance of their cause in discussions with the Israeli Government.
IRAQ/KUWAIT
11
Notification by British nationals of loss and damage
Spokesman said that the Iraqi Ambassador Mr Azmi Al-Salihi had been summoned to the Foreign Office yesterday afternoon (16 October) by Assistant Under-Secretary of State, Mr David Gore-Booth, to receive a British Note reserving the rights of HMG and of UK nationals and companies including the right to full restitution compensation or other reparations with respect to acts or omissions attributable to the Government of Iraq or the Iraqi occupation authorities in Kuwait since the illegal occupation of Kuwait by Iraq on 2 August 1990. The meeting had lasted 11 minutes. The atmosphere was correct.
The FCO will be inviting UK companies and nationals whose property in Kuwait or Iraq has been lost, damaged, or destroyed, or who have suffered personal injury, as a result of Iraq's illegal invasion of Kuwait to notify us of the details, with a view to opening a list. Advertisements are being placed in the national press for this purpose. UK companies and nationals are not being asked to submit claims at this stage, and the notification procedure does not imply that HMG will necessarily consider any claims on behalf of UK companies and nationals in the future. The handling of claims is a matter which can only be decided once the Gulf crisis is over.
Losses resulting from compliance with or the operation of the UN embargo against Iraq are not covered by this exercise.
HM Embassy Kuwait: Staff in Baghdad
Spokesman said that Mr Gore-Booth had also taken the opportunity to register with the Iraqi Ambassador our concern at the refusal of the Foreign Ministry in Baghdad to accept the accreditation of 8 diplomatic service personnel (whose service in Kuwait had come to an end), as members of the diplomatic staff of our Embassy in Baghdad.
Spokesman explained that these staff were members of HM Embassy Kuwait whose postings had been brought to an end when they were
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.