---

Southern Cameroons National Council

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is towards the Southern Cameroons National Council; and if he will make a statement. [135261]

Mr. Hain: As an Anglophone organisation committed to secession from Cameroon, parts of the SCNC have used armed violence in pursuit of their aims. We have pressed the Cameroon authorities to ensure that the rights of all, whether Anglophone or Francophone, be respected. We urge all groups in Cameroon to work together to find peaceful and lawful solutions to their problems. We deplore all violent activity.

EU Institutional Changes

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on EU institutional changes affecting (a) the Commission, (b) the Parliament, (c) the Court of Justice and (d) the Court of Auditors. [135397]

Mr. Vaz: I refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper laid before the House on 15 February 2000, Official Report, columns 769-83, which clearly sets out the Government's position toward the institutional changes currently being discussed at the intergovernmental conference.

EU Enlargement

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress being made in EU enlargement negotiations with (a) Bulgaria, (b) Latvia, (c) Lithuania, (d) Malta, (e) Romania and (f) Slovakia. [135390]

Mr. Vaz: Accession negotiations with the six countries listed were launched on 15 February 2000. For the purpose of negotiations, the "acquis communautaire" (ie the body of

2 Nov 2000 : Column: 559W

law and practice to which all member states subscribe) of the European Union is divided into 31 "chapters". By 24 October, the countries concerned had "opened" (ie started negotiations on) between eight and 13 chapters each. Malta had "provisionally closed" (ie no further negotiations are required at this stage) 10 chapters; Slovakia nine; Latvia and Lithuania seven each, Romania and Bulgaria six each. These countries are expected provisionally to close a number of further chapters at the Deputies Conferences scheduled for 16 November and at the Ministerial Conferences on 21 November.

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the state of the EU enlargement negotiations in respect of (a) Cyprus, (b) Czech Republic, (c) Estonia, (d) Hungary, (e) Poland and (f) Slovenia. [135391]

Mr. Vaz: Accession negotiations with the six countries listed were launched in March 1998. For the purpose of negotiations, the "acquis communautaire" (ie the body of law and practice to which all member states subscribe) of the European Union is divided into 31 "chapters". By 5 October, the countries concerned had "opened" (ie started negotiations on) 29 (out of 31) chapters. Cyprus had "provisionally closed" (ie no further negotiations are required at this stage) 16 chapters, Estonia 14, Hungary and the Czech Republic 13 each, Slovenia 12 and Poland 11. These countries are expected provisionally to close a number of further chapters at the Deputies Conferences scheduled for 14 November and at the Ministerial Conferences on 5 December.

New Agenda Coalition

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on the New Agenda Coalition at the United Nations General Assembly and their efforts to get agreement on multilateral nuclear disarmament. [135399]

Mr. Vaz: The Government were pleased to have reached agreement with the New Agenda Coalition, and with the other states party to the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), on a forward-looking agenda for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament at the 2000 NPT Review Conference in May.

The Government wish to see that agenda reinforced at this year's United Nations General Assembly. To that end, we are currently engaged in discussions with the Coalition in New York on the text of their draft resolution.

Landmine Clearance Programme

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the landmine clearance programme in Bosnia- Herzegovina; and when he expects the operation to be completed. [135216]

Mr. Vaz: It is difficult to obtain precise figures for demining progress to date in Bosnia and Herzegovina. But NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) estimates indicate that, up to 1999, 50,000 devices (mines and unexploded ordnance) had been cleared; official figures from the local Mine Action Centres suggest that over 12,600 devices have so far been cleared in 1999 and 2000. The overall system of demining in Bosnia and Herzegovina is

2 Nov 2000 : Column: 560W

currently under review, in an effort to accelerate the process; but it is not possible to give an estimated end-date for the operation.

Colombian Anti-narcotics Police

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) financial support and (b) logistical, personnel or training support the Government have provided to the Colombian Anti-Narcotics Police in the last 10 years. [135114]

Mr. Battle: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have not provided financial support to the Colombian Anti-Narcotics Police (ANP).

Some training has been provided to the ANP in the past ten years. This has included military training, seaport profiling and vehicle search techniques. We have also provided equipment to the ANP in support of this training, which has included rummage kits and communications equipment.

Plan Colombia

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the UK and its European counterparts to make a final decision on the allocation of funds for Plan Colombia. [135110]

Mr. Battle: The European Commission announced at the second consultative group meeting on support for the peace process in Colombia, held in Bogota on 24 October, that the EU would contribute 105 million euro to Colombia over the period 2000-06. In addition, the Commission pledged to continue to support humanitarian projects in Colombia, current expenditure of which is around 10 million euro per annum.

The EU Presidency made clear at the meeting that the European package is in support of the peace process; defence of human rights and international humanitarian law; help for victims of violence; protection of biodiversity and the environment, and support for regional co-operation.

Bolivia

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent violence in the Chapare region of Bolivia. [135111]

Mr. Battle: The political situation in Bolivia has stabilised following a period of social unrest and violent tension in late September and early October. Protests in the Chapare centred on the Bolivian Government's plans to eradicate illegal coca crops, in line with a five year counter-drug action plan.

An agreement was reached with coca growers on 14 October and the situation in the Chapare has stabilised, although there have been sporadic outbreaks of violence since then. The agreement provides for better implementation and control of alternative development projects and the establishment of a human rights commission to investigate violence and deaths in the Chapare since 1998. The Bolivian Government has also shelved plans to build three military barracks in the Chapare.

2 Nov 2000 : Column: 561W

EU Energy Policy

Mr. Cash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on proposals by the European Parliament relating to the European Union's energy policy. [135088]

Mrs. Liddell: I have been asked to reply.

I am not aware of any specific proposals in this area.

Israel

Mr. Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what investigations are being undertaken to ensure that arms exports to Israel are not being used for internal repression or external aggression. [135555]

Mr. Hain: We have no evidence to suggest that equipment licensed for export by this Government has been used by Israeli Forces against civilians in the Occupied Territories during the recent events. We are very concerned about the recent violence in the Occupied Territories and in Israel and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals for action Her Majesty's Government are evaluating in its role as one of the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention to monitor Israeli violations of the IVth Geneva Convention in the Occupied Territories. [135473]

Mr. Hain: We and our EU partners monitor the situation in Israel and the Occupied Territories closely through our diplomatic missions. We are also in close contact with the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organisations.

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action his Department is taking to ensure that no British equipment is being used by Israeli forces in (a) helicopter attacks and (b) other actions against civilians in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. [135472]

Mr. Hain: We have no evidence that equipment licensed for export by this Government has been used by Israeli forces against civilians in the Occupied Territories during the recent violence. We would be concerned if such evidence came to light and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Israeli Government about the re-establishment at Mitzpe Hagit in the West Bank of an illegal settlement. [135471]

Mr. Hain: The Government's position remains that all settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the peace process. This applies to Mitzpe Hagit, as to other settlements. The Israeli Government is well aware of our position.

---