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Nigerian High Commission: Unpaid Traffic Fines
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they propose to take in respect of the 1,084 unpaid parking and minor traffic violation fines outstanding on 16 July in respect of the diplomatic mission of Nigeria.[HL448]
Baroness Amos: Her Majesty's Government are very concerned at the high number of unpaid parking and minor traffic violation fines owed by the Nigerian High Commission.
The Government are proposing to take up this issue with the Nigerian authorities, both here and in Abuja, as a matter of urgency.
Belarus: Disappearance of Prominent Figures
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they, the European Union or the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe have had any positive replies to their inquiries concerning the fate of Mr Viktor Gonchar, Mr Analtoly Krasorsky, Mr Yuri Zakharenko and Mr Dimitri Zavadsky, who have disappeared in Belarus.[HL530]
Baroness Amos: I regret to inform the noble Lord that neither Her Majesty's Government nor European Union partners, nor the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, have received any response from the Belarusian authorities that leads us to believe that they are making serious efforts to conduct a thorough investigation into the disappearances of Viktor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky, Yuri Zakharenko and Dmitri Zavadsky. But the Government will continue to press the Belarusian authorities to ascertain the fate of these prominent figures. A European Union Declaration to this effect was issued on 7 May, the second anniversary of the disappearance of Yuri Zakharenko. On 12 July, European Union partners issued a statement at the
Permanent Council of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe calling for the Belarusian authorities to comment on reports of the existence of Belarusian death squads and their alleged involvement in the disappearances. The Government understand that the trial of two members of the special police force charged with the abduction of Dmitri Zavadsky will take place in August. We will monitor this trial closely.Brazil: Street Children
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they have taken since June 1998, when the report The Silent War was published, to encourage the Government of Brazil to arrest and punish the killers of street children in Rio de Janeiro and other cities.[HL309]
Baroness Amos: The Government have discussed the distressing plight of street children in Brazil in the context of the annual Human Rights Dialogue which was launched with the Brazilian authorities in November 2000. We expect to hold a second round by the end of this year. The Brazilian federal authorities have welcomed this exchange and deserve credit for the constructive approach they have adopted to help deal with these problems. The United Kingdom has supported programmes targeted at helping children. We are currently assisting the Brazilian police and prison service with training to help raise their human rights awareness, which we hope will also contribute to better treatment of children on the street.
Laos
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What recent reports they have received concerning the persecution of Christians in Laos; how much aid they give in each year to Laos; and whether they make such aid dependent on an improvement in that country's human rights record.[HL479]
Baroness Amos: It has not been possible to collate this information in the time given. I will write to the noble Lord once the information is available.
Prime Minister's Special Envoy
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Amos on 10 July (WA73), what has been the cost of the "logistics and administrative support, including use of an office in London and official accommodation overseas, and briefing as necessary" provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Prime Minister's special envoy in each of the financial years since his appointment.[HL343]
Baroness Amos: The FCO and embassies have provided logistical and administrative support, the cost of which is not separately itemised, for the missions the noble Lord, Lord Levy, has undertaken. This has included accommodation, briefing, assistance in arranging programmes and accompanied transport by road. The noble Lord, Lord Levy, travels at his own expense.
Grigory Pasko
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What reports they have received of the trial of Grigory Pasko, who is accused of treason through espionage under Article 275 of the Russian penal code in the Vladivostok court, after having been acquitted on the same charge by the court of the pacific fleet; and whether they consider that the proceedings against Mr Pasko contravene Council of Europe or Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe principles.[HL389]
Baroness Amos: We continue to monitor the second trial against Grigory Pasko closely, as we did the first, which we consistently raised with the Russians. The Minister at the Embassy in Moscow met Pasko in Vladivostok on 12 July and made clear the Government's concern at the renewal of legal proceedings. We note that Pasko could exercise his right of individual petition to bring a case in Strasbourg against the Russian Federation for a possible breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Colombia: Peace Process
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are discussing with Colombia and the United States the probable consequences of Plan Colombia; and whether they will continue to provide moral and material support of the village of San Jose de Apartado and other places in Colombia which seek to function as zones of peace.[HL380]
Baroness Amos: We continue to have extensive discussions with the Colombian Government, and with the US Administration, about developments in Colombia, including the peace process and the implementation of Plan Colombia, as well as the development of the EU package we are supporting.
The British Embassy in Bogota is in regular contact with the Colombian authorities on the safety and protection of vulnerable groups, including members of the peace communities in the Departments of Choco and Antioquia. British Embassy officials in Bogota raised our specific concerns about the peace community in San Jose de Apartado with the Head of the Human Rights Unit at the Vice Presidency on 9 May 2001 and with the Prosecutor General's Office on 7 June 2001.
The UK and Dutch Governments are co-sponsoring a project proposed by the peace community to build a refuge in the town of Rio Sucio where members of the community can stay.
European Political Parties:Proposed Council Regulation
Lord Molyneaux of Killead asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 9 July (WA60), whether they accept that Article 308 of the treaty establishing the European Community is an adequate legal basis for the proposal for a Council regulation on the statute and financing of European political parties (COM(2001) 343 final).[HL438]
Baroness Amos: Her Majesty's Government have considered this proposal carefully and have come to the conclusion that the use of Article 308 is justified legally. Provided the details of the regulation are right, we are content that Article 308 be used, not least to ensure full transparency of funding for European Political Parties as soon as possible.
Lord Molyneaux of Killead asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 9 July (WA60), whether any provisions of the proposal for Council regulation on the statute and financing of European political parties (COM(2001) 343 final) as published on 21 June are incompatible with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.[HL439]
Baroness Amos: The draft regulation on the statute and financing of European political parties is compatible with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
European Council: Status
Lord Bruce of Donington asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will set out, in respect of the European Council:
(a) its international legal status;
(b) by whom, and when, it was first appointed;
(c) its constitution;
(d) its composition;
(e) its powers;
(f) its financing;
(g) its functions;
(h) its relationship with the Council of Ministers;
(i) where it meets; and
(j) the frequency of its meeting.[HL378]
Baroness Amos: The status of the European Council is governed by Article 4 of the Treaty on European Union: it was recognised as a separate Community body in 1986 by Article 2 of the Single European Act, although it had been meeting on a regular basis since 1975. It brings together the heads of state or government and the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the member states and the President and one member of the Commission. It meets at least twice a year, under the chairmanship of the head of state or government of the member state holding the Presidency of the Council. Meetings are held either in the country holding the Presidency or in Brussels. Declaration 22 annexed to the Treaty of Nice provides that from 2002, one European Council meeting per Presidency will be held in Brussels. When the number of member states reaches 18, all European Council meetings will be held in Brussels.
The role of the European Council is to provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and to define the general political guidelines thereof. The Council of Ministers is the principal decision-making body within the Union.
The Council Secretariat finances the travel and accommodation costs of a certain number of delegates for each member state. All other costs are met by the member state hosting the European Council.
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