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Montenegro

36. Sir David Madel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to hold further talks with the Russian Government on the current situation in Montenegro; and if he will make a statement. [117203]

Mr. Vaz: I am in regular contact with Foreign Minister Ivanov on a range of Balkans issues. Russia shares our concern to promote stability in the region, including in relation to Montenegro. I refer the hon. Member to the

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answer I gave earlier in the House today to the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath), Official Report, column 177.

Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts about efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution of tensions in Montenegro. [118252]

Mr. Vaz: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with his European and international counterparts on questions of stability in the Balkans, including the situation in Montenegro. These discussions have been reflected most recently in the conclusions of the General Affairs Councils of 20 March and 10 April, and of the Lisbon European Council of 23-24 March.

Non-proliferation Treaty

37. Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the position of Her Majesty's Government to be taken at the forthcoming review conference on the non-proliferation treaty. [117204]

Mr. Hain: We are unequivocally committed to the NPT, which remains the cornerstone of our non- proliferation policy. We have made a positive contribution to implementing the agenda agreed at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference and will work for a positive outcome to this year's conference which will advance the goal of nuclear disarmament.

Falklands

Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with the new Argentine Administration about the Falkland Islands. [117183]

Mr. Battle: We have established a good working relationship with the new Argentine Government. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has met President De la Rua twice. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has met the Foreign Minister Rodriguez Giavarini.

I attended the Argentine Presidential inauguration on 10 December and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has met the Argentine President and Defence Minister. I know my right hon. Friend has visited the Falklands and I can assure him of our commitment to the question of sovereignty and our commitment to the Islanders' rights to determine their own future.

EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is consulting the Scottish Parliament on the proposed EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. [118272]

Mr. Vaz: The Government consult the Scottish Executive on all EU issues that touch on devolved matters, including the proposed EU Charter of Rights. The Executive is, in turn, accountable to the Scottish Parliament.

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Human Rights (Egypt)

Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received regarding the trials of human rights activists in state security courts in Egypt. [118521]

Mr. Hain: In February we received reports that the Secretary General of the Egyptian Human Rights Organisation (EOHR), Hafez Abu Sa'ada, faced the prospect of being tried by a State Security Court. I understand that Hafez has never been formally notified of the charges against him, and we will continue to follow his case closely.

European Courts

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government are taking to try to prevent a conflict between the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. [118310]

Mr. Vaz: The European Court of Justice has for many years taken account of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights, although not formally bound by it. Instances where the two courts have differed in their interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights have been very rare. The Government are working to ensure that the risk of conflict does not increase as a result of the current discussions about a European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights.

US National Missile Defence System

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 4 April 2000, Official Report, column 408W, if, in his discussions with the US Secretary of State, he (a) indicated UK (i) opposition to or (ii) support for the proposed national missile defence system and (b) offered UK co-operation over the proposed system. [118318]

Mr. Vaz: The US has not asked for UK assistance in the deployment of the proposed National Missile Defence system, nor would we expect them to do so until after a US decision on whether or not to proceed with its deployment. In our discussions with the US Administration on the subject, we have made clear that the UK would consider any such request carefully. We have also welcomed the fact that the US will make their deployment decision on the basis of a number of important factors, which will include taking account of the views of Allies and the status of the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty.

Macedonia (Mr. Richard Hudson)

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to protect the rights of Mr. Richard Hudson, arrested for a driving offence in Macedonia in August 1999. [118358]

Mr. Hain: Our consular staff in Macedonia have raised Mr. Hudson's family's and our concerns for Mr. Hudson's safety with the Macedonian authorities on a number of occasions, most recently on 30 March when our Vice-Consul called on the Prison Director.

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Consular staff have visited Mr. Hudson regularly since his arrest and will continue to do so during his detention. If Mr. Hudson has any concerns about his welfare we will immediately bring them to the prison authorities' attention.

Council of Europe

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the cost of the 27 March Conference at Portsmouth on promoting Europe. [118027]

Mr. Vaz: The Council of Europe Parliamentary and Public Relations Committee's visit to Portsmouth from 25-28 March was organised by the Overseas Office in the House of Commons, and the costs therefore fall within the Administration vote which is a responsibility of the House of Commons Commission.

Mr. Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an announcement on the appointment of a United Kingdom member to the Council of Europe Venice Commission. [118863]

Mr. Vaz: I am pleased to announce that I have today appointed Professor Jeffrey Jowell QC as the UK Member of the European Commission For Democracy Through Law (the Venice Commission).

Investment Sanctions (Burma)

Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what powers he has to impose unilateral sanctions on investment in Burma by UK-based companies. [118676]

Mr. Battle: We believe multilateral measures are more effective than unilateral ones. We have no statutory powers to impose unilateral financial sanctions against Burma in current circumstances, nor are we seeking such powers. Our policy is not to encourage trade or investment in Burma. We regularly review the adequacy of EU measures in Burma. Yesterday we persuaded EU partners to strengthen the EU Common Position on Burma.

Sierra Leone

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 April 2000, Official Report, column 284W, what was the purpose of the High Commissioner's discussion with Roger Crooks since his return to Sierra Leone. [118621]

Mr. Hain: The High Commissioner encountered Mr. Crooks at a social event. Mr. Crooks told the High Commissioner about his refurbishment of a hotel in Freetown, to be used as the headquarters of UNAMSIL.

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answers of 3 April 2000, Official Report, columns 283-84W, if notes and minutes of meetings between the High Commissioner and Roger Crooks have, in each case, been conveyed to his Department. [118622]

Mr. Hain: The High Commissioner has had no formal meetings with Mr. Crooks. We would not require him to record social discussions with Mr. Crooks.

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Fylingdales

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for amendments to the ABM treaty to enable the upgrading of Fylingdales consequent on the development of the United States' National Missile Defense programme; and if he will make a statement. [118752]

Mr. Vaz: The United Kingdom is not a party to the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty. The question of any amendments to it is for the United States and Russia. Discussions between them on this issue continue.

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