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Austria (Bilateral Meetings)
Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those previously planned meetings, and their subject, between his Department and its Austrian counterpart which have been cancelled since the formation of the new Austrian Government. [109895]
Mr. Vaz: There were no previously planned meetings, and therefore none that have been cancelled.
Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance he has given to the British Ambassador to Austria in respect of (a) official contacts and meetings with ministers of the new Government, (b) official contacts with officials of the new Government and (c) promoting Britain's interests in Austria. [109867]
Mr. Vaz: According to the measures of the 14 EU member states there are no restrictions on the contacts of the Ambassadors of the 14 in Vienna; contacts between officials also remain unrestricted. Her Majesty's Ambassador in Vienna will use his discretion in developing contacts with a new Government. He will continue to promote Britain's interests there.
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's relations with Austria. [109815]
Mr. Vaz
[holding answer 11 February 2000]: I have made clear the Government's deep concern and distaste at the inclusion in the Austrian Government of a far-right party which appeals to xenophobia. Together with our 13 other partners in the European Union we have implemented measures which will serve to limit the bilateral relationship between the UK and Austria. I have welcomed the fact that the new Austrian Government have committed themselves to abiding by the common obligations and values of EU membership, to combating all forms of discrimination, and to dealing constructively
16 Feb 2000 : Column: 585W
with the country's Nazi past. We will be watching them closely and judging them on whether they fulfil the commitments they have made.
Dr. Starkey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of evidence presented to the European Commission concerning products processed in Israeli settlements in occupied territories which have been imported into the Community under the EC Trade Agreement with Israel in violation of that Agreement's Origin Rules Protocol; and if he will make representations to the Commission about acting on the evidence presented. [109539]
Mr. Vaz:
Customs and Excise is participating in a European Commission initiative to establish the true origin of goods which have been exported to the United Kingdom and other member states under the provisions of the Interim Agreement on trade and trade-related matters between the European Community and the State of Israel. So far investigations have failed to substantiate the alleged non-compliance with the provisions of the Agreement. We will continue to assist the Commission in its investigations and to support the continuing dialogue between the Commission, the Israeli Government, and the Palestinian Authority on this issue.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Commonwealth counterparts concerning Sri Lanka's membership of the Commonwealth. [109513]
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the civil war in Sri Lanka. [109515]
Mr. Hain:
We are concerned about the continuing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka and believe a lasting solution can be reached only through a political settlement. We welcome the Leader of the Opposition's recent offer of support for the President's devolution package. We have made it clear that we stand ready to help in the resolution of the conflict if both sides ask us to play a role.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the Sri Lankan Government's press reporting of the civil war there. [109538]
Mr. Hain:
Concerns have been expressed about military censorship in Sri Lanka. We believe it is important for the Sri Lankan Government to maintain their commitment to press freedom, although this needs to take account of the need for military security.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts concerning the civil war in Sri Lanka. [109514]
Mr. Hain:
The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka is discussed frequently in EU fora.
16 Feb 2000 : Column: 586W
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to encourage a political settlement between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam. [109516]
Mr. Hain:
We take every opportunity at bilateral meetings to stress the need for a political settlement to end the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. We have made it clear that we stand ready to help if both sides ask us to play a role.
Ms Drown:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the dates of the preparatory meetings of officials for the Okinawa G8 Summit in July. [109529]
Mr. Hain:
So far there have been two meetings of senior officials to prepare for the Okinawa Summit. G8 Heads' Representatives met on 23-24 January and Foreign Ministry officials met on 5-6 February. Between now and the Summit there will be further meetings of these and Finance Ministry officials to prepare the Summit agenda. In addition there are a number of expert level groups looking at different issues on the G8 agenda such as Nuclear Safety and Non-Proliferation. The Japanese Presidency of the G8 has not publicised the dates yet.
| Date | ||
|---|---|---|
| January | ||
| 22 | Finance Ministers' Meeting (G7) | Tokyo, Japan |
| 23-24 | Sherpa Meeting | Kyoto, Japan |
| February | ||
| 5-6 | Foreign Affairs' Sous-Sherpa Meeting | Nara, Japan |
| 9 | Education Ministers' Preparatory Meeting | Tokyo, Japan |
| 28-29 | Political Directors' Meeting | Kyoto, Japan |
| March | ||
| 4 | Finance Sous-Sherpa Meeting | Kyoto, Japan |
| 11-12 | Foreign Affairs' Sous-Sherpa Meeting | Karuizawa, Japan |
| April | ||
| 1-2 | Education Ministers' Meeting | Tokyo, Japan |
| 4-5 | Sherpa Meeting | Ireland |
| 7-9 | G8 Environment Ministers' Meeting | Japan |
| 15 | Finance Ministers' Meeting | Washington DC |
| May | ||
| 15 | Finance Sous-Sherpa Meeting | Karuizawa, Japan |
| 15-16 | Sherpa Meeting | Karuizawa, Japan |
| 27-28 | Political Directors' Meeting | Miyazaki, Japan |
| 28-29 | Foreign Affairs' Sous-Sherpa Meeting | Miyazaki, Japan |
| June | ||
| 17 | Finance Sous-Sherpa Meeting | Fukuoka, Japan |
| 29-1 | Plenary Sherpa Meeting | Okinawa, Japan |
| July | ||
| 8 | Finance Ministers' Meeting | Fukuoka, Japan |
| 12-13 | Foreign Ministers' Meeting | Miyazaki, Japan |
| 21-23 | G7/8 Annual Summit | Okinawa, Japan |
16 Feb 2000 : Column: 587W
Remploy
Mr. Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what Remploy products his Department has purchased in the last three years. [109935]
Mr. Hain: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not purchased any products from Remploy during the last three years.
Cameroon
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Cameroon in respect of the arrest of Justice Frederick Ebong, Chief Ayamba and James Sam Sabum; and what assurances he has been given concerning (a) their welfare, (b) their condition and (c) location of their detention. [110066]
Mr. Hain: Justice Ebong, Chief Ayamba and James Sabum were arrested on 8 and 9 January and are being held in Yaounde for firearm offences, following their alleged participation in demonstrations in the South West. Prison conditions are being monitored by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
We regularly raise our concerns about human rights and prison conditions with the Government of Cameroon (GoC). We have urged them to respect human rights and their international obligations. We have also called on them to charge prisoners within 72 hours, as stipulated by Cameroonian law. We did this most recently on 1 February. We will continue to monitor the situation carefully.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received which estimate the total number of members of the Southern Cameroons National Council detained in Yaounde, Buea and Limbe following demonstrations held on 8 and 9 January. [110067]
Mr. Hain:
The British High Commission in Yaounde has received reports that 25 SCNC members were arrested following these incidents. We are concerned about this as we are about the general deterioration in human rights in the Cameroon.
Mr. Chaytor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received which estimate the total number of English-speaking political prisoners in Nkondengui Prison, Yaounde, Cameroon. [110068]
Mr. Hain:
We are aware that 25 English-speaking prisoners are being held in Nkondengui Prison, Yaounde. They were arrested for alleged firearms offences.
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