House of Commons Hansard Debates for 8 Mar 1989

Afghanistan

21. Mr. James Lamond : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the supply of arms to the anti-Government forces in Afghanistan.

Mr. Eggar : It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to comment on matters of this kind.

43. Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects British diplomats to return to Afghanistan.

Mr. Eggar : British diplomats will return to Kabul as soon as circumstances permit them to do a useful job.

Drug Trafficking

22. Mr. Rathbone : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions have been taken by Her Majesty's Government following the Vienna conference on a convention against illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

Mr. Eggar : The United Kingdom signed the new convention on 20 December, subject to ratification. We are actively developing closer international co-operation in areas covered by the convention particularly over the tracing, freezing and confiscation of traffickers' assets.

United States Secretary of State

23. Mr. Tim Smith : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his meeting with the United States Secretary of State on 12 February.

Mr. Eggar : Secretary Baker and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State had most useful and wide-ranging talks on 12 February.

39. Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the American Secretary of State and what was discussed.

Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend last met Mr. Baker in London on 12 February. They exchanged views on a wide range of subjects.

Romania

26. Mr. Arbuthnot : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make further representations to the Romanian Government about human rights.

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Mr. Waldegrave : Certainly. We frequently raise human rights violations with the Romanians, both bilaterally and together with our EC partners. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State raised our concerns about Mrs. Doina Cornea and the 22 co-signatories to her open letter to President Ceausescu with the Romanian Foreign Minister in Vienna on 6 March. Regrettably, the Romanian authorities have rejected all our representations. We shall continue to raise such cases as appropriate with the Romanian authorities.

54. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received from Her Majesty's ambassador to Romania about human rights abuses in that country.

Mr. Waldegrave : We receive all-too-frequent reports of human rights violations in Romania, both from Her Majesty's embassy in Bucharest and from non-governmental organisations. Romania's human rights performance is unsatisfactory in many areas, and its observance of CSCE commitments, freely entered into at the Helsinki, Madrid and Vienna meetings, inadequate. We raise these matters with the Romanian authorities on all appropriate occasions.

Soviet Union

27. Mr. Soames : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his Soviet counterpart ; and what matters he will discuss.

67. Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr. Edward Shevardnadze ; and what subjects he expects to discuss.

Mr. Waldegrave : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State met Mr. Shevardnadze in Vienna on 6 March. He will meet him again during Mr. Gorbachev's visit to the United Kingdom on 5 to 7 April. He expects to discuss with him a wide range of bilateral and East-West issues, including human rights.

Isle of Man

29. Mr. Holt : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met with representatives of the Manx Government ; and what matters were discussed.

Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. and learned Friend has had no meetings with representatives of the Manx Government. As my hon. Friend has been told, matters relating to the Isle of Man are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

France

30. Mr. Carttiss : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed at the Anglo-French summit of 27 February.

Mrs. Chalker : Discussion covered a wide range of bilateral and international issues. These included East-West relations, defence and arms control matters, and regional issues such as the middle east. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister expressed gratitude for French support over Iranian threats to Mr. Rushdie.

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NATO (Burden Sharing)

31. Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been taking place with the United States of America on burden sharing within the Atlantic Alliance ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave : The United States is fully involved in discussion of burden sharing within the Alliance, including for instance in the work which led to the report on enhancing collective security agreed by NATO Defence Ministers last December, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Jacques Delors

32. Sir Russell Johnston : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met Mr. Jacques Delors ; and what matters were discussed.

Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State last met Mr. Delors at the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 February. The matters discussed were covered in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath (Mr. Townsend) on 22 February.

Hong Kong

33. Mr. Michael J. Martin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in regard to the second draft of the Basic Law for Hong Kong ; and if he will make a statement.

47. Mr. Martlew : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in regard to the second draft of the Basic Law for Hong Kong ; and if he will make a statement.

61. Mr. Skinner : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in regard to the second draft of the Basic Law for Hong Kong ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar : The second draft of the Basic Law was published in Peking on 24 February. It will be the subject of further public consultation in Hong Kong. We have received no representations on this draft.

48. Mr. Yeo : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the Governor of Hong Kong ; and what subjects were discussed.

Mr. Eggar : My right hon. and learned Friend's last meeting with the Governor of Hong Kong was on 22 February 1989 during one of his regular visits to the United Kingdom for routine consultations. The discus-sions covered the full range of Hong Kong issues.

Botswana

34. Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last held discussions with representatives of the Botswana Government ; and what matters were discussed.

Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. and learned Friend last met President Masire and the Botswana Foreign Minister

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in London in July 1986. Discussions covered a wide range of bilateral and regional issues. I have regular contacts with Botswana leaders, and met both the President and Foreign Minister most recently during my visit to Botswana in November 1988.

EC Foreign Ministers

35. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to attend a meeting of European Community Foreign Ministers ; and what he expects will be discussed.

Mrs. Chalker : The next meeting of the EC Foreign Ministers will be at the Foreign Affairs Council on 20 and 21 March. The matters expected for discussion were outlined in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 1 March.

Angola

36. Mr. Riddick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have taken any steps to bring about reconciliation between the Marxist MPLA Government and UNITA in Angola.

Mrs. Chalker : We continue to be in touch with African leaders in the region who are best placed to mediate.

60. Mr. Knowles : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the offer of a ceasefire and direct talks made by UNITA ; what he is doing to promote a ceasefire or direct talks ; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker : We would welcome any move to establish internal peace in Angola which had the support of both sides. We continue to be in touch with African leaders in the region who are best placed to mediate.

EC (Fraud)

37. Mr. Nicholas Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific steps Her Majesty's Government are urging within the Council of Ministers to enable it to act effectively against financial fraud in the European Parliament.

Mrs. Chalker : We have presented a number of suggestions on combating fraud and mismanagement to the Council. These include proposals that the Commission :

revise its 1987 proposal on the control and monitoring of export refunds in the light of the recommendations in paragraph 4.56 of the Court of Auditors report, 1987 ;

bring forward proposals for improving the regulations governing intervention storage.

In making these and other suggestions, we shall be looking to the Commission to detail the necessary proposals and carry out the essential monitoring to ensure an effective fight against fraud. But we shall emphasise, too, that all member states must demonstrate their determination to act by supporting practical proposals of a similar kind.

President Gorbachev

38. Mr. Brandon-Bravo : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects he intends to discuss with President Gorbachev during his forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom.

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Mr. Waldegrave : During Mr. Gorbachev's visit to the United Kingdom, my right hon. and learned Friend expects to discuss a very wide range of bilateral and East-West issues, including human rights.

Iran

40. Mr. Teddy Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he is making for visa applications for Iranian nationals wishing to come to the United Kingdom ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar : Visa applications may be made at any of our visa issuing posts overseas.

83. Mr. Ian Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have taken place with the United Nations Security Council on relations with Iran.

Mr. Waldegrave : This issue has not been raised within the Security Council. However, we have raised it separately with individual members.

Eastern Europe (Human Rights)

41. Mr. Favell : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a statement on the abuse of human rights in eastern Europe.

Mr. Waldegrave : Human rights abuses regrettably occur in many parts of eastern Europe. Romania is the worst offender, but the situation in Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and the GDR also gives cause for serious concern.

59. Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the abuse of human rights in eastern Europe.

Mr. Waldegrave : We receive frequent letters from hon. Members and from members of the public about human rights abuses in eastern Europe. We regularly take up such cases with the Governments concerned, both bilaterally and together with our partners.

Central America

45. Mr. Michael Brown : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the San Jose V conference.

50. Mr. Patchett : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the last european Community-- central American meeting which he attended in Honduras ; and if he will make a statement.

58. Mr. Flannery : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the outcome of the last european Community- central American meeting which he attended in Honduras ; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar : The EC reaffirmed its support for the peace process in central America. In particular, the EC welcomed the latest proposals of President Duarte aimed at bringing peace to El Salvador. The texts of the political and economic communique s issued by the conference will be placed in the House.

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55. Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects he discussed during his recent visit to central America.

Mr. Eggar : During my visit to central America from 23 February to 5 March I discussed prospects for peace in the region following the El Tesoro summit with several central American Ministers, and other politicians, as well as with President Arias. Where appropriate in these and other meetings I also discussed bilateral political, economic and commercial relations, our human rights concerns in the region, our technical co-operation programmes and how to combat the threat posed by drugs, among other subjects.

78. Mr. Jacques Arnold : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospect for peace in central America in the light of the San Jose V conference.

Mr. Eggar : At the San Jose V Conference the EC reaffirmed its support for the Esquipulas peace process and welcomed the 14 February agreement reached by the central American Presidents. The conference also expressed support for President Duarte's latest peace efforts for El Salvador. The prospects for peace will greatly improve if commitments to democracy are carried out in spirit as well as in letter.

West Germany

46. Mr. Devlin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters were discussed at the Anglo-German summit of 20-21 February in Frankfurt.

Mrs. Chalker : My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Chancellor Kohl discussed East/West relations, arms control, the middle east, South Africa and the environment. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Defence, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State discussed with their German opposite numbers a range of issues which fall within their departmental responsibilities.

71. Mr. Squire : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current state of Anglo-German relations.

Mrs. Chalker : The Federal Republic of Germany is one of our most important allies and partners. We have the closest relations, as is demonstrated by the recent summit meeting in Frankfurt, and by the wide range and frequency of ministerial and official contacts. A further summit is planned to be held in this country in March 1990. I shall be attending the annual Koenigswinter conference in Germany next week, to which members of the Bundestag and the Federal Government are also invited in their personal capacities.

Conventional Forces

49. Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has had with his NATO counterparts on the commencement of conventional forces in Europe talks in Vienna.

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Mr. Waldegrave : These talks, together with the negotiations on confidence and security-building measures, were among the subjects my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State discussed with his NATO ministerial colleagues at the North Atlantic Council in Brussels on 8 and 9 December last year. We outlined our objectives in the statement on conventional arms control, of 8 December, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Ethiopia

53. Mr. Andrew F. Bennett : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Ethiopia.

Mrs. Chalker : Fighting continues in northern Ethiopia. We remain concerned about the human rights situation. Fortunately there has been no recurrence of serious famine. We have urged the need for negotiation, the release of political prisoners, and the adoption of sensible economic policies.

El Salvador

56. Mr. Corbyn : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will be sending

representatives to monitor the conditions under which the next presidential elections will be held in El Salvador.

Mr. Eggar : We have not been asked to do so.

74. Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will be sending

representatives to monitor the conditions under which the next presidential elections will be held in El Salvador.

Mr. Eggar : We have not been asked to do so.

Drugs (Central America)

57. Mr. Greg Knight : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to co-operate with central American countries in the fight against drugs.

Mr. Eggar : I have just returned from a visit to the area. I had discussions with the Governments of Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras about strengthening anti-drugs co-operation, and on behalf of Her Majesty's Government handed over equipment worth a total of £30,000. We shall now explore ways to build further on these contacts.

Turkey

62. Mr. Jessel : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British relations with Turkey.

Mrs. Chalker : Turkey is a close NATO ally, with whom we enjoy good relations. In 1988, the Prime Minister paid a successful visit to Turkey and President Evren an equally successful state visit to Britain. British companies are involved in Turkey's economic development and we co-operate closely with Turkey on many issues. We welcome the progress made to improve human rights since the return to civilian rule in 1983.

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Nigeria

64. Mr. Wood : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Nigeria.

Mrs. Chalker : We enjoy close and cordial relations with Nigeria.

Kenya

65. Mr. Knapman : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom-Kenya relations.

Mrs. Chalker : We enjoy excellent relations with Kenya. President Moi has just completed a successful visit to London, during which he delivered the opening address at the international conference on saving the ozone layer, and had a working lunch with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

Vietnamese Refugees

66. Mr. Tom Clarke : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other Governments in order to resolve the problem of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

68. Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other Governments in order to resolve the problem of Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong.

Mr. Eggar : We are in regular contact with other resettlement countries, countries of first asylum, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and Vietnam on all aspects of this problem. We have recently undertaken to resettle an additional 1,000 Vietnamese refugees in Britain, and have secured increased commitments from other countries at the same time.

Mr. Charles Bester

69. Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now make representations to the South African authorities concerning the case of Mr. Charles Bester.

Mrs. Chalker : No. Mr. Bester has appealed against his sentence.

Syria

70. Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government are considering restoring diplomatic relations with Syria.

Mr. Waldegrave : No. We could not consider restoring diplomatic relations without firm evidence that Syria had given up support for international terrorism.

Cocaine

73. Mr. Anthony Coombs : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on international co- operation in the fight against cocaine.

Mr. Eggar : Co-operation is close both bilaterally and in multilateral fora. The new United Nations convention,

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