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IGC (2004)

19. Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with member states of the European Union on the agenda for the 2004 intergovernmental conference. [158628]

Mr. Vaz: The Declaration on the Future of the Union attached to the Treaty of Nice states that the 2004 Intergovernmental Conference will address, inter alia, the delimitation of powers between the European Union and member states, simplification of the Treaties, the status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the role of national parliaments. It also calls for a deep and wide debate on the future of the EU involving the people of Europe. We welcome this.

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Cyprus

20. Sir David Madel: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in the proximity talks concerning the future of Cyprus. [158629]

Mr. Vaz: The UK continues to believe that the current UN settlement process, launched in December 1999 by the UN Secretary-General, offers the best chance of achieving both a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus and one which can take into account the vital concerns of both sides. We regret the current lack of progress in the talks but are confident that the UN will find a way to move the process forward. To that end we will continue to urge all those involved to be fully and positively engaged in the search for a solution.

30. Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Cyprus. [158639]

Mr. Vaz: Cyprus is an important partner for the UK. Our relationship is underpinned by common membership of the Commonwealth, Cyprus' EU candidacy, our close trading links, significant tourism and frequent contacts at ministerial and official level. My visit to the island in March allowed me to have valuable meetings with President Clerides, Foreign Minister Kasoulides and Chief EU Negotiator Vassiliou during which I reiterated UK support for the UN settlement process and Cyprus' EU accession.

Kosovo

22. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU partners on the future status of Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [158631]

Mr. Vaz: We have regular discussions with EU colleagues on matters relating to Kosovo. The agreed EU position on the future status is clear and remains unchanged. We believe that a Kosovo remaining within FRY represents the best option for stability in the region. But this is not an issue for today. The important thing now is to focus on the forthcoming elections, on establishing interim institutions and building Kosovo's capacity for self-government. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made our views clear during his visit to Kosovo on 24 April.

Naira Nadia (Pakistan)

23. Mr. Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has received to the representations made by the Government to the Pakistani authorities on 22 March concerning the kidnap and rape of Naira Nadia. [158632]

Mr. Wilson: We understand that charges have now been brought against three men and a woman in the Lahore High court in relation to the Naira Nadia case. The first hearing was on 19 April. The hearing has been adjourned until 22 May to give the police more time to complete their investigations.

We will continue to monitor the court proceedings closely.

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Conflict Diamonds

24. Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on developments in controlling the sale of conflict diamonds. [158633]

Mr. Wilson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today in the House to my hon. Friend the Member for Milton Keynes, North-East (Mr. White).

EU (Belgian Presidency)

25. Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the agenda for the forthcoming Belgian presidency. [158634]

Mr. Vaz: The Belgian Government take over the presidency on 1 July 2001. They have not yet announced their programme. But the Belgian presidency have been mandated to take forward the wide public consultation on the future of Europe called for in the Nice Treaty and launched on 7 March. In the enlargement process, it is scheduled to tackle nine chapters of the "acquis communautaire", thereby sustaining the pace of the enlargement negations. It will carry forward the implementation of the Lisbon economic reform agenda to deliver more and better jobs. Discussion of external trade will focus on efforts to launch a new WTO trade round. The Belgian presidency will also take forward work on the European Security and Defence Policy, preparing a decision by Heads of State and Government for the EU to become operational in military crisis management, by the December Summit in Laeken at the latest. The Laeken Summit will also review progress on the Justice and Home Affairs work programme set at Tampere in October 1999. The Belgian presidency will also witness the final preparations to introduce euro notes and coins in January 2002.

Syria

26. Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's relations with Syria. [158635]

32. Dr. Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's relations with Syria. [158642]

Mr. Wilson: The UK and Syria enjoy good and friendly bilateral relations, based on an active and broadening programme of co-operation in support of Syria's stated objective of modernisation. We also conduct a full and wide-ranging dialogue with Syria on regional issues, as part of our broader aim to promote regional stability and encourage the constructive engagement of all parties in pursuit of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.

EU (Enlargement)

27. Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with colleagues from other member states of the European Union relating to enlargement of the EU. [158636]

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Mr. Vaz: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed enlargement with all of his EU colleagues at the General Affairs Council on 9 April and expects to do so again on 14 May. Since January, we have had separate discussions on enlargement with many of our colleagues in the EU and candidate countries, and will continue to do so.

Turkey

29. Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Turkish Government on allegations of rape and other human rights abuses by state agencies. [158638]

Mr. Vaz: On 23 March our Embassy in Ankara raised with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs the case of nineteen people who made allegations about rape and torture in police custody, and have since been charged with insulting the security forces. We regularly raise specific human rights cases with the Turkish authorities.

34. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Turkey. [R] [158644]

Mr. Vaz: The UK enjoys good bilatrial relations with Turkey. Turkey is an important partner for Britain and the EU, a key NATO ally, a candidate for membership of the EU and a major market for UK exporters.

Sweden

31. Mr. Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the relations between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Sweden. [158641]

Mr. Vaz: Relations remain close and substantial. Sweden is running an effective and impartial EU Presidency. Our aim is to support the Swedish Government in this task. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, I and many other British Ministers meet or talk to our Swedish counterparts on a regular and frequent basis.

Belize Telecommunications

33. Mr. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the dispute between the British high commission in Belmopan and Belize Telecommunications has been resolved. [158643]

Mr. Battle: No. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 10 April 2001, Official Report, column 532W. The issue is now in the hands of the Belize Public Utilities Commission and the Belizean Government. We hope that it will be resolved soon.

India

36. Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on bilateral relations with India. [158646]

Mr. Wilson: We enjoy excellent relations with India. Ministers regularly discuss issues of mutual interest with their Indian counterparts and a number of successful visits have taken place over the last year. We are aware of the

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hon. Member's interest in the case of Peter Bleach, a British national in prison in Calcutta. We continue to raise this case at the highest level with the Indian authorities.

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