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China/Taiwan

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Chinese authorities on its new law with regard to possible conflict with Taiwan. [222957]

Mr. Rammell: As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Mr. Moore) on 16 March 2005, Official Report, column 338W, Ministers have taken a close interest in the development of China's Anti-Secession legislation. We have discussed it on a number of occasions at Ministerial and official level with the Chinese, in meetings both before and after its enactment.

Although the legislation refers to China's desire to resolve the issue peacefully, we are concerned that it makes reference to the possibility of the use of non-peaceful means". Our view is still that the Taiwan question should be settled peacefully through negotiation between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. We remain strongly opposed to the use of force, as we have consistently made clear to all, including the Chinese.

In addition, the EU issued a Statement on 14 March recording its opposition to the use of force to resolve this issue.

We continue to appeal to both sides to avoid unilateral measures which might heighten tensions. Instead, we encourage both sides to continue the progress of recent months through the implementation of practical measures.

Colombia

Mr. Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Colombian authorities regarding the murder of Luis Eduardo Guerra, leader of the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community. [222248]

Mr. Rammell: We are deeply shocked by the brutal killing of Luis Eduardo Guerra. Our embassy in Bogota has spoken to the judicial authorities and to Colombian Government representatives at the highest level to express our concerns regarding this killing. Luis Eduardo Guerra was a highly respected member of the Colombian NGO community and well known to our embassy. I met him during my visit to Colombia in 2004. I welcome the Colombian Government's assurances that there will be an impartial, swift and effective investigation into this, as well as into the other murders in the San Jose de Apartado Peace Community. Officials from the human rights unit in the Attorney-General's office, as well as forensic specialists and other officials, are in the area where the killings happened and are carrying out their investigation. This process includes interviews with members of the Peace Community, as well as all local army units, to try and establish the facts. We have also stressed to the Colombian authorities the
 
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need for proper protection to be given to witnesses of the crimes and of human rights defenders following thecase. The Colombian authorities have assured us that such protection will be available to anyone who needs it. We continue to closely monitor the situation. Those responsible, whoever they may be, must be brought to justice.

Correspondence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 13 May 2004 from the hon. Member for Brent, East regarding Mr. John Clegg. [215631]

Mr. Rammell: My right hon. and noble Friend the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister responsible for our relations with Iraq, replied to the hon. Member's letter on 11 March. Unfortunately we only received the hon. Member's letter on 16 February 2005.

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letter dated 7 February from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. M. R. Svei. [221914]

Mr. Alexander: UKvisas have no record of having received this letter. They have requested a copy from the office of my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will reply to him as soon as possible once a copy of the letter is received.

Croatia

Mr. Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on (a) progress in establishing the whereabouts of Ante Gotovina and (b) the impact of that progress on Croatia's proposed accession to the European Union. [221888]

Mr. Straw [holding answer 15 March 2005]: On 16 March 2005, EU Foreign Ministers concluded that the conditions for the opening of EU accession negotiations had not been met in the absence of full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The opening of accession negotiations have been postponed until such time as the Council confirms that Croatia is fully co-operating with ICTY. The UK strongly supported this conclusion.

The postponement does not affect Croatia's candidate status, and the UK fully supports Croatia's eventual accession to the EU. We will continue to work closely with the Croatian Government and encourage them to co-operate fully with the ICTY, in particular in their efforts to locate and arrest fugitive indictee Ante Gotovina.

Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Croatian Government. [222199]

Mr. MacShane: The UK Government maintain a regular dialogue with the Croatian Government, through our embassy in Zagreb and in the course of
 
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ministerial and official level meetings. Most recently I met the Croatian Foreign Minister, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic on 1 March 2005.

Such meetings address a wide range of issues. In recent months the focus has been on the need for Croatia to fully co-operate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in order for the opening of EU accession negotiations to begin. On 16 March 2005, EU Foreign Ministers concluded that these conditions had not been met in the absence of full co-operation with the ICTY. The UK fully supports Croatia's eventual accession to the EU and we will continue to work closely with the Croatian Government and encourage them to fully co-operate with ICTY.

EU Presidency

Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what budget his Department has set aside for the UK Presidency of the EU; and how much of that has been allocated for the provision of public information. [221376]

Mr. MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's budget allocation for 2004–05 is £2.130 million for Financial Year (FY) 2004–05 on UK EU Presidency related activity. The final budget allocation for 2005–06 will be finalised by the end of this month but £8.440 million has currently been set aside. Of this £350,000 has been allocated for the provision of public information and other public-facing activity. (£100,000 FY 04/05 and £250,000 projected for FY 2005–06).

European Constitution

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what the dates are of those referendums on the treaty establishing a constitution for the European Union which have been announced. [222395]

Mr. MacShane: The dates of those referendums on the treaty establishing a constitution for Europe which have been announced are: 27 September 2005 (Denmark); 29 May 2005 (France); 10 July 2005 (Luxembourg); 1 June 2005 (Netherlands). The Spanish referendum took place on 20 February 2005.

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of whether the proposed EU Constitutional Treaty takes account of derogations negotiated by the latest accession countries, with particular reference to those negotiated by (a) the Czech Republic, (b) Estonia and (c) Poland. [222417]

Mr. MacShane: The derogations negotiated by the latest accession countries, in particular by Czech Republic, Estonia and Poland are taken account of in Protocol 9 to the Constitutional Treaty.

Gibraltar

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what visits to Gibraltar he has planned. [221482]

 
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Mr. MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no current plans to do so.

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