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Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
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.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
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.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
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.
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
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.
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
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.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
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.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
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.
Lord Molyneaux of Killead asked Her Majesty's Government:
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:
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.
Lord Bruce of Donington asked Her Majesty's Government:
(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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