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General Affairs Council

Mr. Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 12 to 14 June; and if he will make a statement. [126746]

Mr. Vaz: The General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 13 June adopted the A points listed in document no. 9278/00 and noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its part-session of 15-19 May in Strasbourg listed in document no. 8157/00. Copies of these documents will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as they become available.

1. MEPs Statute

The Council took note of the Presidency's discussions with the European Parliament on a statute to regulate the salaries, expenses and conditions of MEPs. There has been no substantive progress in these discussions.

2. Feira European Council

The GAC continued preparations for the Feira European Council on 19-20 June. The Presidency indicated that issues for discussion are expected to include the IGC, the Charter of Rights, economic issues, external issues, defence and enlargement.

3. IGC

The GAC discussed progress to date on the IGC, and confirmed the objective of concluding by the end of the year. No conclusions were reached.

4. Common Strategy on the Mediterranean

Agreement on the text of the draft Common Strategy will be sought at the Feira European Council on 19 June.

5. Defence

Foreign and Defence Ministers jointly discussed European security and defence policy. They considered a Presidency report to the European Council on progress in this field since the Helsinki European Council, and agreed to submit the report to Heads of Government at Feira.

6. Sierra Leone/Liberia

The Council expressed concern at the continuing crisis in Sierra Leone, welcomed the decision to put on trial Foday Sankoh, leader of the RUF, expressed concern at links between the Sierra Leone rebels and Liberia; and emphasised that EU policy, including under the Lome convention, would take full account of Liberia's behaviour with regard to Sierra Leone.

7. Zimbabwe

The Council expressed concern at the obstacles put in the way of international observers and regretted that the United Nations had had to withdraw from its role as a co-ordinator for the various election observer teams. The Council reiterated its concern at the ongoing violence and intimidation in Zimbabwe.

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8. South Africa

The Council adopted a new development regulation for South Africa and agreed declarations on wines and spirits.

9. Western Balkans

The Council expressed its deep concern at the continuing deterioration of the political situation in Serbia and reiterated its condemnation of the repression against the opposition and independent media. The Council requested its competent bodies to expand the visa ban list.

The Council welcomed the fact that municipal elections took place in Podgorica and Herceg Novi, and reaffirmed its support to the democratic forces in Montenegro.

The Council reaffirmed the EU's strong commitment to the full implementation of UNSC resolution 1244 in Kosovo. The Council condemned the ethnic violence in Kosovo and strongly supported the efforts of UNMIK and KFOR to ensure the security of the Serb minority. It urged the Serb National Congress to end its suspension of participation in the Joint Interim Administrative Structures and emphasises the importance of municipal elections. The Council reaffirmed its support for Serbian civil society.

The Council agreed with the Commission's assessment that Croatia was ready to enter into negotiations with the EU towards a Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

The Council emphasised the importance of speedy reform in Albania and urged all parties to participate in preparation for municipal elections this autumn.

The Council heard a report from Commissioner Patten on new trade preferences for the Western Balkans and invited its competent bodies to examine it with a view to early Council adoption.

The Council approved the Commission's proposal for 20 million euro in exceptional financial assistance for Montenegro.

10. Indonesia

The Council met over lunch with Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab to launch an enhanced EU/Indonesia relationship. A Joint Declaration was adopted, establishing formal political dialogue.

11. East Timor

The UN Secretary General's Special Representative and Transitional Administrator of East Timor, Sergio Vieira de Mello, briefed the Council on UNTAET's work in East Timor. The Council expressed its willingness to help speed up the reconstruction and rehabilitation process and called for pledges of assistance to be delivered and disbursed expeditiously.

12. Inter-Korean Summit

The Council adopted a declaration welcoming the Inter-Korean Summit of 13-14 June in Pyongyang and encouraging the process of reconciliation between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic Peoples' Republic of Korea.

13. Accession Conferences with EU Applicants

Accession Conferences took place with all 12 countries in negotiation for membership.

14. Association Councils with Israel, Slovakia and Slovenia

Association Councils were held with Israel on 13 June and Slovakia and Slovenia on 14 June. That with Israel provided an opportunity to discuss economic and political relations. It covered a range of issues of interest to both sides, focusing particularly on the opportunities offered by the entry into force of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

US National Missile Defence

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bilateral discussions with (a) Canada and (b) Denmark there have been on developing criteria for the formulation of a decision on National Missile Defence. [126957]

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Mr. Vaz: We have had a number of discussions with the Canadian and Danish Governments--both bilaterally, and in NATO--on US National Missile Defence plans.

These discussions have not included the development of criteria for a decision on National Missile Defence. It is for the United States to decide whether or not to proceed with deployment of a US National Missile Defence system. The US Administration have said that such a decision would be made by the President on the basis of four criteria, namely: the threat; costs; technological feasibility; and wider international implications, including for arms control.

Cuba

Mr. Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal assistance, with particular reference to the filing of an appeal, was given via the British Consular staff in Cuba to Ms Rachel McGee, following her trial there in September 1999. [126766]

Mr. Hain: Our Consular staff are not legally trained and are not able to offer legal advice.

At the request of Rachel McGee, consular staff contacted Ms McGee's family about the possibility of an appeal, facilitated payment to the Cuban law firm that represented Ms McGee in the trial and transmitted her request to lodge an appeal.

Following submission of the appeal, the Embassy in Cuba have repeatedly pressed the lawyers to obtain a date for an appeal hearing.

Pharmaceuticals (Spain)

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he (a) has made and (b) plans to make to the Government of Spain about the possible effects on United Kingdom manufacturers of recent legislative changes to the regulations on the pricing of pharmaceutical products in that country. [126668]

Mr. Vaz: We have made no representations to the Government of Spain on this issue and currently have no plans to do so.

Zimbabwe

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Governments of (a) South Africa and (b) other countries bordering Zimbabwe concerning the situation in Zimbabwe. [126763]

Mr. Hain: We have had regular contact with the countries of Southern Africa concerning the situation in Zimbabwe. President Mbeki visited the UK last month as a Guest of Government. I attended a meeting of the World Economic Forum in Durban on 22 June where I met leaders from other Southern African countries.

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the Government have to send observers to Zimbabwe for the parliamentary elections; and if he will make a statement. [126760]

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Mr. Hain: We have no plans to send a British observer team to Zimbabwe. We have however contributed funding to the EU and Commonwealth observer teams. We have also contributed funding for the training of Zimbabwean election monitors.

Diamonds

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government classifies diamonds originating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as diamonds from an area of conflict. [126754]

Mr. Hain: We believe that diamonds originating in DRC are being used by both sides to fund the war.

The UK has supported the establishment of a UN expert panel to follow up on reports and collect information on the exploitation of DRC's natural resources and the links to conflict within DRC. We look forward to the panel's recommendations to the Security Council.

We want to see a peaceful resolution of the conflict, and DRC's natural wealth used to benefit the people of DRC.

Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government plan to take in respect of British-registered companies trading in diamonds from conflict areas. [126784]

Mr. Hain: UN Security Council resolution 1173, adopted on 12 June 1998, requires all states to prohibit the import from Angola to their territories of all diamonds not controlled through the Angola Government's Certificate of Origin regime. The UK implements this requirement by means of an amendment to the Open General Import Licence. The UK has tabled a draft Security Council resolution which would impose a similar prohibition with respect to Sierra Leonean diamonds. The Government welcome the establishment of a UN expert panel which will investigate the links between exploitation of mineral resources and conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and will consider the panel's recommendations for action.

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