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Turkey
Mr. Wareing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received in respect of Turkey's conflict with its Kurdish population; and if he will make a statement. [83561]
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Ms Quin:
We receive regular representations from Members of Parliament, Members of the House of Lords, members of the public and interested groups about the conflict in south-east Turkey.
We have made it clear to the Turkish authorities that we believe the conflict in the region cannot be resolved by military means alone. We believe that the social and economic problems of south-east Turkey and the aspirations of the Kurdish population there must be addressed if the region is to achieve a long-lasting peace.
We have long made clear our condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, including terrorist acts by the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party).
Mr. Wareing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current position in respect of Turkey's application to become a member of the European Union. [83488]
Ms Quin
[holding answer 7 May 1999]: The Cardiff European Council in June 1998 endorsed the European Strategy for Turkey, which aims to prepare Turkey for membership by bringing it closer to the EU in all areas. The Turks and the Commission have met three times so far to discuss implementation of the Strategy. We welcome the Commission's proposals for funding the Strategy, worth 150 million euro over 3 years. These proposals are currently being considered by the European Parliament; we hope they can be agreed soon.
In November 1998, the Commission produced its first annual report on Turkey's progress towards European Union membership. The report noted that Turkey had most of the hallmarks of a market economy, but still needed to address shortcomings in the areas of human rights, treatment of minorities and the lack of civilian control over the army. Turkey must improve its record in these areas in order to meet the criteria for membership of the European Union laid down by the 1993 Copenhagen European Council.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many children over the age of majority living in the United Kingdom as part of the household of employees or diplomats of the Zimbabwe High Commission are entitled to diplomatic immunity. [83551]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 7 May 1999]: There are five children over the age of majority living in the United Kingdom as part of the households of diplomats of the Zimbabwe High Commission. All five are entitled to diplomatic immunity.
Dr. Marek:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer on 26 April 1999, Official Report, column 35, what approach he will adopt in considering applications for full British citizenship from Ilois who do not hold full citizenship of another country. [83379]
10 May 1999 : Column: 28
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 7 May 1999]: The British Government does not propose to extend the offer of British citizenship to British Dependent Territories citizens who owe their status to their association with the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Mr. Wareing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what reports he has received concerning the whereabouts of Dr. Ibrahim Rugova; what attempts have been made to contact him; and with what results; [83485]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 7 May 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke by telephone to Dr. Rugova on 6 May in Rome, where he was staying as a guest of the Italian government. Prior to that, I met with Mr. Hafiz Gagica, a senior representative of the LDK on 23 April. Officials remain in close contact with the LDK.
Mr. Wareing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from Montenegro in respect of the military action in Yugoslavia. [83486]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 7 May 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with the Montenegrin President, Mr. Djukanovic. President Djukanovic naturally regrets the need for military action against the FRY. We understand his position and have pledged Montenegro maximum support.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made on the effects of an oil embargo on Montenegro. [83582]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We recognise the political and economic impacts on Montenegro of the conflict in Kosovo. Both the EU and NATO have made every effort to minimise the adverse effects for Montenegro of punitive measures against the regime in Belgrade, including the EU oil embargo which entered into force on 30 April. The European Union has recently allocated 13 Meuro for budgetary assistance for Montenegro. We are pressing the Commission to ensure that these funds are disbursed as soon as possible, and are exploring other ways of assisting.
Mr. Wareing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in respect of the return of refugees to Krajina; and what representations have been made to Croatia in respect of their return. [83492]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 7 May 1999]: The Government believes that all those displaced from their homes during the conflicts following the break-up of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should be allowed to return to their homes.
10 May 1999 : Column: 29
We take every opportunity to impress on the states of the former Yugoslavia, including Croatia, the importance we place on refugee return. I most recently raised this issue with Mrs. Skare-Ozbalt, President Thajman's principal adviser on refugee policy, when she called on me in London on 26 April.
Mr. Wareing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government first made direct contact with the Kosova Liberation Army; and how many meetings there have been between Her Majesty's Government and that organisation since. [83494]
Mr. Tony Lloyd
[holding answer 7 May 1999]: An initial meeting between an official of the British Embassy in Belgrade and leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was held on 30 July 1998. As co-Chairman of the Rambouillet peace talks, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary held frequent meetings with the Kosovo Albanian delegation, which included representatives of the KLA. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and officials have subsequently had a number of contacts with senior leaders of the KLA.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for information he received under the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in the last parliamentary session; and how many of these applications were granted. [83107]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
For monitoring purposes, this information is collected on a calendar year basis. Information for 1997 was published last year in the "Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information 1997 Report. In 1998, my Department received 46 applications for information under the Code--35 were met in full, 8 in part and 3 were refused.
Dr. David Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for information he received under the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information in the last parliamentary session; and how many of these applications were granted. [83115]
Janet Anderson:
My Department monitors applications for information received under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information on a calendar year basis. In 1998-99 the Department and those of its sponsored bodies 1 then subject to the Code received 34 requests for information. 30 of these were granted.
10 May 1999 : Column: 30
An Order taken before the Privy Council in February 1999 brought all the executive and two of the advisory NDPBs sponsored by my Department within the scope of the Code.
Mr. Whittingdale:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures his Department is taking to promote traditional folk and acoustic music. [83294]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
The Government recognise the importance of folk and acoustic music to our wider arts policy. The strategic arms length relationship between DCMS and the Arts Council in funding issues means that it is for the Arts Council and Regional Arts Boards to take decisions on the funding of specific art forms, but DCMS is aware of the need to ensure that performers, producers and promoters of folk music continue to receive appropriate support. The Arts Council--having already provided significant Lottery support to folk music, and having also increased substantially the grant-in-aid budget to be committed to it--will shortly be launching a new Folk Music Policy which, following consultation, will provide a framework for future development, partnerships with other sectors, and future funding.
(2) what contact Her Majesty's Government have had with the Democratic League of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [83484]
1 In 1998-99 the following DCMS sponsored executive NDPBs were subject to the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information:
Royal Parks Agency
Arts Council of England
British Film Institute
British Library Board
Crafts Council
English Sports Council
English Tourist Board
English Heritage
Museums and Galleries Commission
National Heritage Memorial Fund/Heritage Lottery Fund
Registrar of Public Lending Right
UK Sports Council.
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