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20 Nov 2003 : Column 1305W—continued
Uganda
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the progress made by the Government forces of Uganda against the Lord's Resistance Army; what assessment his Department has made of the probability of a military resolution to the civil war in Uganda; and if he will make a statement. [136639]
Mr. Mullin: Efforts by the Ugandan Government forces to defeat the rebel Lord's Resistance Army have so far been unsuccessful. While recognising the need for a security response, our assessment is that a military solution on its own is unlikely. We are encouraging the Government of Uganda to undertake parallel efforts at dialogue to resolve the conflict
Afghanistan
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens captured by Coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2002 remain in detention in Afghanistan. [139362]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: We know of no British citizens captured by Coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2002, or at any other time since 11 September 2001, who remain in detention in Afghanistan.
Bechtel
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to his Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if he will make a statement. [137888]
Mr. Rammell: The Wilton Park Executive Agency has not contracted with Bechtel during this period.
Border Controls
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effects the European Constitution will have on United Kingdom border controls. [140277]
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Mr. MacShane: I will write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
Burma
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent action the Government has taken in relation to breaches of (a) human and (b) political rights in Burma. [139789]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 19 November 2003]: The UK has made regular representations to the Burmese authorities about the human rights situation in Burma, bilaterally, with our EU partners and at the United Nations. I regularly speak to EU partners and Burma's neighbours to press Burma on human rights issues.
In addition, the UK co-sponsored a resolution in the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) on 16 April 2003 and will be co-sponsoring a Burma resolution at this year's UN General Assembly concerning the abuse of all human rights in Burma.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the United States Government's stance on sanctions against Burma. [139790]
Mr. Mike O'Brien [holding answer 19 November 2003]: Like the US, we believe that pressure on the regime is essential if we are to bring about democracy, national reconciliation, and respect for human rights in Burma.
With our EU colleagues we are currently discussing what further measures we may take to target those obstructing reform and progress in Burma, while ensuring that the ordinary people of Burma suffer as little as possible.
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter to him dated 17 September from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. Zubeda Islam. [133844]
Mr. Mullin: I can confirm that as a result of an administrative error, no reply was sent to my right hon. Friend to his letter to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, of 17 September about Mrs. Zubeda Islam.
The Foreign Secretary wrote to my right hon. Friend on 27 October on this case. I apologise for the delay in replying.
European Constitution
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will lay before Parliament a White Paper reproducing the texts of those proposed articles of the draft EU Constitution which are new and additional to those found within or included in the European treaties already in force, giving for each a statement of purpose and the reasons ministers have for supporting, amending or rejecting each and his assessment of whether each is (a) a new constitutional provision and (b) a tidying up. [137942]
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Mr. MacShane: I will write to my hon. Friend shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.
General Affairs and External Relations Council
Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of the General Affairs and External Relations Council held on 17 November; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement. [139942]
Mr. MacShane: The information is as follows:
Outcome of the 17–18 November general affairs and external relations council
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, the International Development Secretary and I, represented the UK at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels on 17–18 November.
Conclusions were agreed on the Western Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, ESDP, Nigeria, the annual report on development policy implementation, Governance and Development, the role of the private sector in developing countries, and the OSCE. An informal Defence Ministerial took place in parallel.
Commission work programme for 2004
The Council took note of the Commission presentation of its legislative and work programme for 2004.
Progress of work in other council configurations
The Presidency gave a standard progress report on work in other Councils: Employment/Social Affairs/Health/Consumer Affairs, Justice and Home Affairs and Transport and Telecommunications.
Preparation of European council (Brussels, 12–13 December)
The Council examined the Presidency's annotated draft agenda for the 12–13 December European Council. The main issues are:
- Economic growth
Strengthening the EU's area of freedom, security and justice
EU enlargement
External Relations, Common Foreign and Security Policy and European Security and Defence Policy.
The Commission presented its monitoring reports on the Accession States' preparations for membership of the European Union and its Strategy Paper and regular reports on progress by Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey towards accession. The Council adopted Conclusions welcoming the progress made so far, while encouraging improved progress on outstanding areas of concern.
The Presidency briefed Member States on Kosovo and the Contact Group's Strategy. The GAERC also agreed that direct dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on practical issues of mutual concern remained vital to fulfil its policy of "standards before status".
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EU-Russia
The Presidency de-briefed on the outcome of the 6 November EU-Russia Summit. Ministers agreed on the need to identify the core elements and priorities for the EU's relationship with Russia and to discuss the matter again early in the new year.
There was a brief discussion of follow-up to the Madrid Donor conference (23–24 October). Partners welcomed the announcement of an accelerated transfer of power to the Iraqis and reiterated the European Union's resolve to contribute to the political as well as economic reconstruction of Iraq.
Ministers discussed the nuclear situation in Iran following the Iranian declaration on signature, ratification and immediate application of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Additional Protocol. The Council agreed that EU members of the IAEA Board of Governors should pursue a common approach at the Board's 20 November meeting. The GAERC tasked Political Directors to take this forward.
The Council discussed its approach ahead of the EU/Israel Association Council later that day.
Commissioner Patten reported on the 19 October Troika visit to Afghanistan. The Council restated the EU's commitment to the reconstruction of Afghanistan and called for free and fair elections to be held next year in order to conclude the road map devised by the Bonn Agreement, The GAERC offered EU assistance with these elections.
The Council also welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 1510 authorising the NATO-led ISAF mission to operate outside the area of Kabul. Member States were considering how to take part in the establishment of Provincial Reconstruction Teams.
Joint session with Defence Ministers
The Presidency briefed on the Defence Ministers' discussions earlier that day: this included talks on operations, EU defence capabilities, EU-NATO, and counter-terrorism. Conclusions were agreed on the European Security and Defence Policy and the Capabilities Agency.
The Presidency and Commission reported on the recent EU-Africa Ministerial Troika (10 November).
The Presidency set out the progress made in implementing the WMD Action Plan agreed at the Thessaloniki European Council in May. This Included: an EU Common Position on the universalisation of non-proliferation instruments; mainstreaming of WMD concerns in EU relations with third countries; further work on EU export controls; and improved EU co-ordination in international fora. Conclusions were adopted highlighting the positive results achieved so far.
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AOB: OSCE ministerial
The Netherlands, as OSCE Chairman in Office for 2003, briefed colleagues on developments on Moldova and Belarus.
Annual report 2003 on development policy implementation
The council held a debate on the Commission's report on the Community's development co-operation policy and the implementation of the EU's external assistance in 2002. Conclusions were agreed.
Creation of African Peace facility
The Council approved a draft Decision (to be adopted by the ACP-EC Council of Ministers) on the use of European Development Fund resources for the creation of a Peace Facility for Africa.
The Council held a brief discussion (and agreed conclusions) on a communication from the Commission on the EU's strategy in support of better governance in developing countries.
The Council held a discussion on the problematic situation of the four major cotton producer countries in Africa. The Council invited the Commission to examine the situation in depth and to inform the Council accordingly-
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