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General Affairs Council
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the outcome of the General Affairs Council held in Brussels on 15 and 16 November; and if he will make a statement. [98505]
Mr. Vaz: The General Affairs Council in Brussels on 15 November adopted the A points listed in document 12700/99 and noted the resolutions, decisions and opinion adopted by the European Parliament in its session of 25-29 October listed in document 11449/99. Copies of the documents listing the A points and resolutions will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as they become available.
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Preparation for Helsinki European Council
(A) European Security and Defence Policy
1. For the first time, Foreign Ministers were joined in the General Affairs Council by Defence Ministers. They discussed progress on follow up to the Cologne Declaration on strengthening the common European policy on security and defence in preparation for the Helsinki European Council. They considered the need for improvements to European military capabilities, including through the setting of targets for European forces capable of being deployed at short notice, and also the need for new structures within the
European Union to enable Ministers to take informed decisions on the deployment of military forces on peacekeeping or crisis management operations.
(B) Common Strategies
Ministers were briefed by the Presidency on the implementation of the Common Strategy on Russia and on preparation of further Common Strategies commissioned by the Vienna European Council. They agreed that the Common Strategy on Ukraine should be ready for Heads of Government to consider at the Helsinki European Council.
(C) Enlargement
The Council had a preliminary discussion of the Commission's Recommendations on enlargement in advance of the Helsinki European Council. The Council will return to the subject on 6 December.
Negotiations on a development partnership with ACPs/9th European Development Fund
2. The Commission proposed maintaining the volume of the next European Development Fund (EDF 9) at the same level as the previous one in real terms. The Secretary of State for International Development, representing the United Kingdom, called for a more realistic assessment of needs to form the basis of discussion on replenishing the EDF. The Council will come back to this at the General Affairs Council on 6 December.
Bananas
3. The Commission presented its proposal for a new banana regime. The Council took note and referred the proposals to the relevant Council bodies for detailed examination.
WTO: Ministerial Conference in Seattle
4. The Council discussed the preparations for the WTO Ministerial Conference at Seattle. It reiterated its support for a comprehensive trade round, responding to the interests of all WTO members, and those of civil society.
EU/South Africa
5. Following discussion among Ministers, the Commission said that it would renew contacts with South Africa to pursue a solution allowing the Agreement on Trade, Co-operation and Development with South Africa to be applied provisionally from 1 January 2000.
Northern Caucasus/Chechnya
6. The Council expressed its deep concern over the continuing military campaign in Chechnya. It called on Russia to observe its commitments under international humanitarian law to avoid civilian casualties and to keep the Chechen-Ingush border open in order to ensure access to safety for IDPs. The Council strongly urged the Russian Government to seek a negotiated settlement and to use the good offices of the OSCE.
Pakistan
7. The Council discussed developments in Pakistan following the 12 October military coup. Ministers reiterated the EU's call for a speedy restoration of democratic civilian rule and urged the military to produce a timetable for this, with clear benchmarks for progress. The Council called for Nawaz Sharif to have a fair and open trial, and for Pakistan to sign and ratify the CTBT.
Western Balkans
8. The Council underlined its continued support for the Serbian people through humanitarian aid, help to democratic political forces and independent media organisations, and preparation for the reconstruction and international re-integration of a democratic Serbia. The EU will also continue to support the democratically elected government of President Djukanovic in Montenegro, including through technical advice and reconstruction aid.
9. The Council adopted amendments to the OBNOVA regulation, which will allow the EU Reconstruction Agency--Kosovo to be set up as soon as possible. The Agency will be responsible for the delivery of EU long-term reconstruction assistance.
10. The Council stressed the need for all political leaders in Kosovo to work actively to prevent the harassment of minority communities, and the need for EU financial and other support for the activities of UNMiK. The Council further confirmed the EU's readiness to help regional states to clear the Danube at Novi Sad, once the FRY has undertaken to meet its obligations under the Danube Conventions.
11. The Council emphasised the importance of free and fair elections in Croatia, and regretted Croatia's failure to take the international community's concerns about its electoral and media laws fully into account. The Council emphasised that Croatia should cooperate fully with ICTY, and can expect active support for a closer and deeper relationship with the EU only if it is willing to take the necessary steps. The EU also welcomed the constitutionality of the recent change in government in Albania, and called on Albania to pursue the priorities of democratisation and the fight against corruption.
Indonesia
12. The Council reviewed recent events in Indonesia and welcomed the establishment of a new broadly based Indonesian government. Foreign Ministers looked forward to working closely with Indonesia on a wide range of issues.
AOB: North Korea (Humanitarian situation)
13. Germany raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in North Korea. The Commission outlined the humanitarian assistance already being provided, including food aid, medical supplies and projects on agricultural rehabilitation, water and sanitation. There was a general discussion about possible measures the Commission might take to encourage North Korea into further economic reform and dialogue with the international community.
AOB: Death Penalty
14. The Council reaffirmed the importance of a common approach to the question of the death penalty, under consideration at the General Assembly in New York. Partners regretted that discussions in New York with all interested delegations had been unable to find consensus on important language relating to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.
EEA: Council
15. The EEA Council took place in the margins of the GAC. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the functioning of the EEA Agreement.
Restraining Equipment
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department takes the United Nations' Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners into account before approving the grant of export licences for oversize cuffs, jumbo cuffs and other restraining equipment. [98541]
Mr. Hain [holding answer 22 November 1999]: The UK fully supports the provisions set out in the United Nations' Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
The statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, North (Mr. Rapson) on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 65-66W, specifically exempted normal handcuffs.
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No licence is required to export handcuffs which have a maximum overall dimension, when locked, that does not exceed 240mm. The export of handcuffs over this size is controlled and applications for their export are assessed against the UK's national export criteria announced in July 1997 and the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports and in light of the ban on the export of leg irons and other items used in torture, announced in July 1997.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on continuing peace initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. [99242]
Mr. Hain:
The Lusaka Agreement offers the best chance of lasting peace in DRC. We are working to support its successful implementation. We continue to urge all parties to implement the agreement in full and to cooperate closely with the UN and other international organisations. We are providing people and money to help implement the military aspects. We are ready, in principle, to support the establishment of a UN force to help implement the agreement. We are also encouraging the DRC authorities and the OAU to press ahead with the planned national debate on the future of the DRC, and are ready to provide funding for this.
Dr. Tonge:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea. [99234]
Mr. Hain:
The situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea remains delicately poised. Eritrea has accepted the Technical Arrangements for implementation of the OAU Framework Agreement. Ethiopia has difficulties with this document.
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