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Written Answers
Wednesday, 1st March 2000.
General Pinochet
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any apologies were ever offered to General Pinochet following the non-disclosure of the connection between Amnesty International and Lord Hoffmann.[HL1127]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): No apology was made directly to Senator Pinochet. However, I refer the noble Lord to the article in The Times on 9 February 1999, where I was accurately quoted as saying "What we are talking about here is an error of judgment . . . It is very, very unfortunate. It has never happened before this century and I don't believe that it will happen again in 100 years.". I am sure that would have been read by Senator Pinochet or his advisers.
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What representations have been made to the Spanish Government following the disclosure of the medical report on General Pinochet.[HL1126]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton): Following receipt of a letter from Senator Pinochet's solicitors dated 16 February 2000 expressing concern about the leaking of the medical report in a Spanish newspaper, Home Office Officials wrote to the Crown Prosecution Service, as representatives of Spain, asking whether Spain could provide any information on how the report had been disclosed.
A reply from the Spanish authorities on the same day indicated that enquiries which they had made did not make it possible for them to conclude that the leak had occurred in Spain, but expressed regret for any difficulty caused by the report's disclosure in the Spanish press.
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, following receipt of the medical report on General Pinochet, it is appropriate that demonstrators should be allowed to bang drums outside General Pinochet's house and keep him awake.[HL1172]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The policing of demonstrations is an operational matter for the local police, and is not a matter in which government Ministers can intervene.
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they believe the length of time taken over the case of General Pinochet, during which time he has been detained, reflects well on the British system of justice.[HL1175]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Senator Pinochet has been held on bail for 16 months pending proceedings pursuant to an extradition request received from the Kingdom of Spain. This length of time reflects the opportunities to mount legal challenges and appeals, of which the parties to the request have availed themselves.
Chechnya: Human Rights
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are in touch with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concerning alleged torture and rape by Russian forces in and near Chechnya; and whether they are studying reports on these matters that appear in Le Monde and the Moscow Times.[HL1166]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): We are in regular contact with the UN High Commission for Human Rights concerning alleged human rights abuses in and around Chechnya. We are studying reports on such abuses from a number of sources, including from the UNHCR, the Council of Europe, NGOs and the media. During his recent visit to Moscow (22-23 February), the Foreign Secretary urged early contact between Mrs Robinson, the UN High Commissioner, and Mr Kalamanov, the recently appointed Russian president's special representative for human rights and civil liberties in Chechnya.
European Union: Forthcoming Council Business
Lord Christopher asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for March; and whether they will list the major European Union events for the next six months.[HL1279]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: See separate list.
This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.
Monthly Forecast of EU Business: March 2000
March 28 February to 1 March--Lisbon--EuroMed Investment Conference
- -- Open Statements
- -- Panel Discussion
- -- Investing in an Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area
- -- Working Groups
- -- Doing Business in the Free Trade Area
- -- Promoting Investment in a Free Trade Area
- -- Investment Financing in the Mediterranean Region
- -- Presentation and Discussion of the Conclusions and Recommendations of the Working Group
- -- Conclusions and Recommendations
- -- Closing Statements
- -- Press Conference
- Consultation procedure
- -- (poss) Proposal for a Council regulation establishing a Community framework for the collection and management of the fisheries data needed to conduct the common fisheries policy
- -- (poss) Proposal for a Council decision on financial contribution from the Community towards the expenditure incurred by the Member States in collecting data, and for financing studies and pilot projects for carrying out the common fisheries policy
- -- (poss) Proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 93/53/EEC introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases
- -- Proposal for a Council regulation amending for the fourth time Regulation (EC) No. 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean and for the fourth time Regulation (EC) No. 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms
- -- (poss) Initiative of the Republic of Austria with a view to adopting a Council decision to combat child pornography on the Internet
- -- EU-Russia relations
- -- Developments in Russia, including the Northern Caucasus
- -- Developments in the EU
- -- Western Balkans
- -- Mediterranean region and the Middle East Peace Process
- -- Preparation for the EU-Russia Summit
- No formal agenda
- No agenda yet available
- -- Preparation of the special European Council in Lisbon
- -- Presidency paper on a Europe of innovation and knowledge
- -- Commission Communication on Community policies to promote employment (Article 127)
- -- Commission Communication on social inclusion
- -- Commission Communication on job strategies in the information society
- -- First Commission report on the social situation in Europe
- -- Commission proposals on Article 13
- -- Oral report from the Presidency on progress in negotiations
- -- Adoption of the provisional agenda
- -- Approval of the list of "A" items
- -- Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact
- -- Preparation of the Lisbon European Council on Employment, Economic Reforms and Social Cohesion
- -- Towards a Europe based on Innovation and Knowledge, Lisbon, 23-24 March 2000
- -- (a) (poss) VAT: Postal Services
- -- Presentation of Commission proposal
- -- (b) Taxation of aircraft fuel
- -- Presentation of Commission communication
- -- Discharge of 1998 budget
- -- Presentation of Commission action plan to improve management and financial procedures
- -- AOB
- No agenda yet available
- No agenda yet available
- No formal agenda
- No formal agenda
- No agenda yet available
- No agenda yet available
- No formal agenda
- No agenda yet available
- No agenda yet available
- No agenda yet available
- No agenda yet available
| Date | Location | Event | |
| March | |||
| 28 Feb to 1 Mar | Lisbon | EuroMed Investment Conference | |
| 1 to 2 | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 2 | Lisbon | EU/Russia Ministerial Meeting | |
| 3 to 4 | Lisbon | Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal) | |
| 10 | Tokyo | EU/Japan Ministerial Meeting | |
| 13 | Brussels | Social Affairs Council | |
| 13 | Brussels | ECOFIN Council | |
| 13 to 17 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 16 | Brussels | Internal Market Council | |
| 17 | Lisbon | Informal Education Ministers Meeting | |
| 17 to 18 | Porto | Trade Ministers' Meeting (Informal) | |
| 20 to 21 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
| 20 to 21 | Brussels | Agriculture Council | |
| 23 to 24 | Lisbon | Special European Council | |
| 27 | Brussels | Justice and Home Affairs Council | |
| 28 | Brussels | Transport Council | |
| 29 to 30 | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 30 | Brussels | Environment Council | |
| April | |||
| 3 | Luxembourg | Fisheries Council | |
| 3 to 4 | Cairo | EU-Africa Summit | |
| 4 | Luxembourg | Social Affairs Council | |
| 7 to 8 | Lisbon | ECOFIN Council (Informal) | |
| 10 to 11 | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council | |
| 10 to 14 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 13 | Luxembourg | Consumer Affairs Council | |
| 15 to 16 | Oporto | Environment Council (Informal) | |
| 17 to 18 | Luxembourg | Agriculture Council | |
| May | |||
| 2 | Brussels | Telecommunications Council | |
| 3 to 4 | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 5 to 7 | San Miguel, Azores | Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers | |
| 8 | Brussels | ECOFIN Council | |
| 8 | Lisbon | EU/New Zealand Ministerial Meeting | |
| 11 | Brussels | Health Council | |
| 15 to16 | Brussels | Agriculture Council | |
| 15 to 16 | Oporto | WEU Council | |
| 15 to 19 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 16 | Brussels | Culture Council | |
| 18 | Brussels | Industry Council | |
| 18 | Brussels | Development Council | |
| 22 to 23 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
| 25 | Brussels | Internal Market Council | |
| 25 to 26 | Lisbon | EuroMed Foreign Ministers Meeting (Informal) | |
| 28 to 30 | Evora | Agriculture Council (Informal) | |
| 29 to 30 | Brussels | Justice and Home Affairs Council | |
| 30 | Brussels | Energy Council | |
| June | |||
| 5 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN Council | |
| 6 | Luxembourg | Social Affairs Council | |
| 8 | Luxembourg | Education Council | |
| 13 to 14 | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council | |
| 13 to 16 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 15 | Luxembourg | Research Council | |
| 16 | Luxembourg | Fisheries Council | |
| 19 to 20 | Luxembourg | Agriculture Council | |
| 19 to 20 | Sta. Maria da Feira | European Council | |
| 21 to 23 | Cyprus | 3rd Euro-Mediterranean Conference of the Ministers of Industry | |
| 22 to 23 | Luxembourg | Environment Council | |
| 26 to 27 | Luxembourg | Transport Council | |
| 28 | Lisbon | EU/India Summit | |
| July | |||
| 3 to 7 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 6 to 7 | Lille | Culture Council | |
| 7 to 8 | (To be confirmed) | Social Affairs Council (Informal) | |
| 10 to 11 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
| 15 to 16 | (To be confirmed) | Environment Council (Informal) | |
| 17 | Brussels | ECOFIN Council | |
| 17 to 18 | Brussels | Agriculture Council | |
| 24 | Brussels | Budget Council | |
| 25 | (To be confirmed) | Education Council (Informal) | |
| 27 | Bangkok | ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting | |
| 28 to 29 | Bangkok | ASEAN Post Ministerial Meeting | |
| 28 to 29 | Arles | Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal) | |
| August There are no Councils scheduled for this month. | |||
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