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Helsinki Summit
24. Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contacts he has had with the representatives of the six EU applicant countries announced at the Helsinki EU summit. [108554]
Mr. Vaz: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave earlier in the House today to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Helen Jackson).
Drugs
25. Mr. Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to improve international co-operation in combating the global drugs trade. [108555]
Mr. Battle: The FCO coordinates the international elements of the UK's national drugs strategy, in close cooperation with Keith Hellawell, the UK Anti-Drugs Coordinator. Our efforts are targeted, with other Government Departments, on reducing the production and trafficking of class A drugs to the UK and Europe; and on improving the effectiveness of other countries, including the EU and UN, in dealing with the global threat from drugs and associated crime.
Angola
26. Mr. Eric Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of action taken against those who break the United Nations sanction against UNITA in Angola. [108556]
30. Ms Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of enforcement action against those who break the United Nations sanctions against UNITA in Angola. [108560]
Mr. Hain: I am extremely concerned by continuing reports of breaches of UN sanctions against UNITA. It is vital that would-be sanctions busters are forced to recognise that the international community will not tolerate their activities. The UK fully implements these sanctions and takes its enforcement responsibilities very seriously.
We strongly support the efforts of Ambassador Fowler, Chair of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee and the Expert Panels that have been set up to investigate how these sanctions can be implemented more effectively. We have contributed $200,000 to fund their work. As I told the House on 18 January, I have referred to the Sanctions Committee the details of three individuals I believe to be
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breaching sanctions. We look forward to the forthcoming report of the Panels and their recommendations on how the sanctions can be made to bite.
The UK regularly discusses better sanctions with fellow Governments on a bilateral basis, urging them to do all that they can to fully implement the measures and take prompt and effective action in response to allegations of breaches. When I visited South Africa in January, I agreed with Deputy Foreign Minister Pahad, who shares my concerns, that we would work very closely together on this issue over the next few critical months.
27. Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his policy in relation to arms sales to other countries. [108557]
31. Mr. Hammond:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the application of his ethical criteria to decisions on arms sales. [108561]
Mr. Hain:
This Government have introduced fundamental changes in the UK's approach to arms exports, while maintaining our commitment to a strong defence industry. We introduced tough new criteria for export licensing. We will not issue a licence if there is a clearly identifiable risk the equipment will be used for internal repression or external aggression. We banned the export of equipment that has been used in torture. We worked for, and got, agreement on an EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports which is recognised by other member states as the touchstone of EU policy on arms exports. We have started publishing Annual Reports--deliberately inviting scrutiny.
28. Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Malta. [108558]
Mr. Vaz:
Our relations with Malta are very strong. We continue to build on our common traditions and shared history with close links across a wide range of issues. We are delighted that negotiations for Malta's EU accession were formally launched today.
29. Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met the European Commission to discuss the draft text for the proposed treaty of Nice. [108559]
Mr. Vaz:
There is no draft text for a possible future treaty of Nice. Last month's Commission Opinion is merely a contribution to the IGC negotiations. Treaty change is for member states.
33. Mr. Bradshaw:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU colleagues about the new Government in Austria. [108563]
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Mr. Vaz:
The Portuguese Prime Minister's statement on 31 January, based on consultations with his colleagues in the thirteen other member states of the EU was a signal of our joint concern about developments in Austria. I discussed developments directly with my EU colleagues including the Austrian Foreign Minister at the General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 8 February.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Austrian Embassy in respect of the formation of the new coalition Government in Vienna; and if he will make a statement. [109125]
Mr. Vaz
[holding answer 9 February 2000]: My officials have been in touch with the Austrian Embassy in London and the Austrians are fully aware of Her Majesty's Governments reaction to the inclusion of the Freedom Party in the new Austrian Government.
I have made very clear over the last two weeks my deep concern and distaste at the inclusion in the Austrian Government of a far-right party which appeals to xenophobia. I have welcomed the fact that the new Austrian Government has committed itself to abiding by the common obligations and values of EU membership, to combating all forms of discrimination, and to dealing constructively with the country's Nazi past. But we will be watching them closely and judging them on whether they fulfil the commitments they have made.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will recall the British Ambassador to Austria. [109816]
Mr. Vaz
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: We have no plans to recall the British Ambassador to Vienna.
34. Mr. Colvin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relationship between the proposed charter of fundamental rights of the European Union and the European convention on human rights. [108564]
Mr. Vaz:
The Charter of Rights should complement the ECHR. The Conclusions of the June 1999 Cologne European Council state that the Charter
35. Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British relations with Chile. [108566]
Mr. Battle:
We have kept closely in touch with the Chilean Government since Senator Pinochet's arrest in October 1998. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has met the Chilean Foreign Minister three times, most recently in New York last September. These meetings have all been open and friendly.
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36. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of sanctions against Iraq on the number of deaths of children in Iraq. [108567]
Mr. Hain:
We are very concerned about reports of increased child mortality rates in Iraq. We continue to support efforts to target the humanitarian effort there towards the most vulnerable who continue to suffer because of the policies of the Iraqi Government. If Iraq had prioritised properly the vast amounts of humanitarian assistance on offer, the suffering of the Iraqi people would have been hugely reduced.
38. Mr. Dobbin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of Her Majesty's Government's visa policy in India and Bangladesh following the recent visit by the Minister of State. [108569]
Mr. Vaz:
Our entry clearance policy is designed to facilitate travel to the UK by visitors who qualify under the Immigration Rules, and to prevent the entry of those who do not.
"should contain the fundamental rights and freedoms as well as basic procedural rights"
guaranteed by the ECHR. I therefore welcome the attendance of Council of Europe representatives at all meetings of the Charter Convention.
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