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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
16. Mr. John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy that Kosovo should remain a part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [86589]
Mr. Robin Cook: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths), column 917.
Russia (Anti-semitism)
20. Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on anti-semitism in Russia. [86593]
Ms Quin: We continue to be concerned at anti-semitic incidents in Russia. But it is the anti-semitic comments by Duma deputies Makashov and Ilyukhin last year which caused outrage in Russia and beyond. At our instigation the EU Presidency made representations to the Russian authorities on this subject in January and my right hon. Friend raised the issue with the Russians during his visit to Russia in March. We remain ready to take further action if necessary, including in co-ordination with our EU partners.
Qualified Majority Voting
21. Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to seek to extend the scope of qualified majority voting in the Council of Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [86594]
Ms Quin:
The possible extension of qualified majority voting will be one of the subjects covered in the Inter-Governmental Conference starting in early 2000. We will look at options on a case by case basis. Where it makes practical sense to extend QMV, we will support it. But where key national interests need to be protected,
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such as on border controls, Treaty change, taxation, defence and social security, we will insist on retaining unanimity.
22. Mr. Jim Murphy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress with the middle east peace process. [86597]
30. Mr. Burden:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the prospects for the middle east peace process. [86606]
Mr. Robin Cook:
I refer my hon. Friends to the answer that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, South-East (Dr. Iddon), column 913.
23. Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what training is given to entry clearance officers on issues relating to the sexuality of applicants for visas. [86598]
Mr. Hoon:
One of the main objectives of the initial three-week training course for Entry Clearance Officers is to ensure that they treat all applicants with courtesy and respect, and without any form of discrimination or prejudice. This course includes guidance on the handling of Settlement applications under the same-sex concession.
24. Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Kosovo. [86599]
Mr. Robin Cook:
KFOR initial deployments are complete. There are now about 19,000 KFOR forces in Kosovo. The Serbs have complied with the Military Technical Agreement and all Yugoslav and Serb forces have now withdrawn from Kosovo. Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN Interim Special Representative in Kosovo, is now in Pristina and is developing arrangements for the interim civilian administration. According to UNHCR, 73,500 refugees returned to Kosovo last week from Albania and Macedonia.
However, there is still much to be done to ensure a secure environment in Kosovo and to help returning refugees and internally displaced people to rebuild their lives. Britain will continue to take a leading role in these efforts.
28. Mr. Geraint Davies:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet the US Secretary of State to discuss developments in Kosovo. [86604]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is and will remain in very regular contact with the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Madeleine Albright, about Kosovo.
29. Mr. Martin Bell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for refugees from Kosovo being able to return to their homes. [86605]
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Mr. Tony Lloyd:
An estimated 140,000 refugees have returned spontaneously to Kosovo from Albania and Macedonia to date and the flow of refugees back to Kosovo continues. The UNHCR will shortly begin a programme of organised returns, once they are sure that the areas to which the refugees are returning are safe. Her Majesty's Government will continue to work closely with the relief agencies to assist the return process.
Mr. Robert Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to protect the historic Serb religious and cultural sites in Kosovo. [87254]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
UN Security Council Resolution 1244 provides that after the withdrawal of Yugoslav and Serb forces from Kosovo, an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serb military and police personnel will be permitted to return to Kosovo to perform certain functions. These functions include maintaining a presence at Serb historic, religious and cultural sites.
More generally, KFOR has been tasked with establishing a secure environment throughout Kosovo.
25. Mr. Corbett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to visit Iran to discuss the upgrading of diplomatic relations. [86601]
Mr. Hoon:
There are no immediate plans for the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to visit Iran.
26. Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has to assist progress towards democracy in Indonesia; and if he will make a statement. [86602]
Mr. Hoon:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham), column 917.
27. Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his plans for economic reconstruction in the Balkans. [86603]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Her Majesty's Government are actively pursuing, with partners, a range of initiatives to promote stabilisation and prosperity in south eastern Europe. The offer of new Stabilisation and Association Agreements for the countries of the region, once they meet the conditions, will help accelerate the EU integration process and make it more inclusive.
We actively supported the EU presidency initiative for a Stability Pact for south-east Europe, which was launched on 10 June and will provide a new form of co-operation, including on reconstruction issues. We warmly welcome current EU and World Bank efforts to assess the reconstruction needs in Kosovo and the impact of the crisis on the neighbouring region. We will continue
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to play our part in all efforts designed to overcome the consequences of the crisis and bring the countries of the region into the European mainstream.
31. Mr. Jim Marshall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with European counterparts about the future development of common foreign and security policy. [86607]
Ms Quin:
I have regular meetings with my European counterparts, at which the future development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy has been a frequent topic of discussion.
32. Mr. Healey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the President of the European Commission to discuss the reform of European Union institutions. [86608]
Ms Quin:
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary last discussed institutional reform with Mr. Prodi when he presented his plans for reform of the Commission to the Cologne European Council on 3-4 June. Like us, Mr. Prodi sees a need to overhaul financial and personnel management within the Commission. We shall work with him to help him achieve his plans.
33. Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the situation in Kashmir; and if he will make a statement. [86609]
Mr. Hoon:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Savidge), column 920.
Mr. Flight:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the impact on the territorial integrity of (a) Pakistan and (b) India of Kashmir becoming an independent state; and if he will make a statement. [87670]
Mr. Hoon:
Such an exercise would not be helpful. It is for India and Pakistan to find a solution to this issue. Any lasting solution must involve, and reflect the views of, the people of Kashmir.
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