Middle East

Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which countries in the (a) Middle East and (b) Gulf region the UK engages in annual bilateral dialogue on security issues; and if she will make a statement.

Dr. Howells
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not yet engage in annual bilateral dialogues on security issues with Gulf or Middle East countries. We participate in multilateral meetings including the International Institute of Strategic Studies Gulf Dialogue, attended by Cabinet level delegations in 2004 and 2005.

The Ministry of Defence engages in regular defence staff talks with the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and Israel. The talks cover a number of issues including regional security.