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The UK and the EU have regular dialogue with the Ukrainian authorities at all levels. My honourable friend the Minister for Europe met the Ukrainian Foreign Minister on 24 May, and the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Ashton, met the Ukrainian Prime Minister on 15 June. Concerns about media freedoms were raised at both meetings. The UK and EU will continue to make clear that relations with Ukraine are built upon a commitment to shared values, including democracy and human rights, and that the erosion of media freedoms would therefore have a negative impact on relations.

Ukraine is obliged to meet its international commitments through participation in the Organization

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for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and membership of the UN and the Council of Europe. On 22 April, the OSCE's Representative for Freedom of the Media wrote to President Yanukovych welcoming his statement of commitment to media freedoms, and drawing his attention to recent concerns.

West Lothian Question

Questions

Asked by Lord Grocott

To ask Her Majesty's Government what they estimate to be the cost of establishing and running a commission to consider the West Lothian question.[HL346]

Asked by Lord Grocott

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many public sector employees would be involved in a commission to consider the West Lothian question; and at what salaries they would be employed.[HL347]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The Government need to give careful consideration to the composition, scope and remit of the commission that will consider the West Lothian question. Details of our plans for the commission and appropriate consultation will be announced in due course.

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McNally on 7 June (WA 30), when a commission to consider the West Lothian question will be established; and whether Parliament will be consulted about its terms of references and composition.[HL350]

Lord McNally: The Government need to give careful consideration to the composition, scope and remit of the commission that will consider the West Lothian question. Details of our plans for the commission and appropriate consultation will be announced in due course.

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