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FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Colombia
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to British Petroleum concerning the Company's internal investigation into arms sales and military activity in Colombia. [56259]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: I met senior BP personnel earlier this week. One of the matters discussed was the situation in Colombia. I reaffirmed our view that we expect all British companies to operate ethically and transparently. I also made it clear that we expect them to take responsibility for the actions of their subcontractors.
Visa Applications
Mr. Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he collects regarding the numbers of people who, having been refused visit visas to enter the United Kingdom, have subsequently been granted visas as a result of a review of the decision by an entry clearance manager. [57333]
Mr. Fatchett: Entry Clearance Issuing Posts are asked to keep a record of the number of visit applications which have been refused and subsequently granted as a result of a review by the Entry Clearance Manager. Statistics from our 100 busiest Entry Clearance Posts, which account for 97 per cent. of all applications received worldwide, show that, between January and September 1998, 477 visas were granted as a result of such a review.
EU General Affairs Council
Mr. Caplin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will report on the outcome of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 26 and 27 October. [57853]
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Ms Quin:
The information is as follows:
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General Affairs Council, 26-27 October
The General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 26-27 October adopted the A points listed in document 12161/1/98 and noted the resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament in its session of 5 October--9 October and listed in document 11721/98. Copies of the documents listing the A points and resolutions will be placed in the House Libraries as soon as they become available.
Agenda 2000
The Council considered a Presidency progress report (document 12153/98). Ministers agreed on the importance of meeting the timetable for Agenda 2000 (agreement in March 1999). Ministers also agreed that decisions on whether pre-accession funds released by the accession of new Member States could be reallocated to the remaining applicant countries should be taken by qualified majority. The Council failed to agree the rate at which Community assistance should be given to pre-accession projects, but it approved Commission proposals for 100 per cent. funding of technical support projects, and for up to 2 per cent. of the budget being spent on preliminary Commission studies. There was general agreement on the management of the agricultural and structural pre-accession instruments, and the nature of the Commission's relationship with the EIB.
The Commission presented its Own Resources report (Document 11666/98) on Member States' contributions to the EC Budget. It proposed various solutions to the net contribution imbalance experienced by some Member States, including the option of co-financing the Common Agricultural Policy.
Enlargement
Ministers noted progress in official-level preparation of the EU's negotiating positions, ahead of substantive negotiations with the candidates at ministerial level on 10 November.
EC Fraud
The Commission reported on the fraud allegations surrounding the EC Humanitarian Office.
CFSP High Representative
The Presidency undertook to talk bilaterally to Member States about candidates, ahead of discussion at the 7 December GAC.
EU/South Africa
The Council heard a report from Commissioner Pinheiro on his recent meeting with South African trade minister Erwin. Ministers discussed the outstanding issues in the negotiations on a Trade and Cooperation Agreement and possible ways of reaching a satisfactory outcome by the end of the autumn.
FRY/Kosovo
The Council adopted a declaration on a comprehensive approach to Kosovo. The Council condemned action by the FRY authorities against the independent media as demonstrated by the prosecution of the owner and editor of the news magazine "Evropljanin", and by the adoption of the new law on public information. The Council expressed its support for Montenegro. The EU will consider ways in which it can continue to support Montenegro's economy and its drive toward political and economic reform.
Albania
The Council stated its support for the new Albanian government. It welcomed the International Conference in Tirana on 30 October. It agreed the EU input into the Conference. It welcomed the supplement to the WEU Feasibility Study on possible options for an International Police Operation in Albania.
Middle East Peace Process
Ministers issued a declaration welcoming the Wye Agreement and congratulating Netanyahu and Arafat on their achievement. Tribute was paid to the important contributions of Clinton and
Albright and to the support of King Hussein. In light of the agreement, Ministers discussed ways to integrate EU work in support of the peace process.
Burma
The Council agreed conclusions and a Decision: (a) rolling over the EU Common Position for a further six months; (b) strengthening it by including transit visas and Burmese officials involved in tourism; (c) echoing views of Burmese democratic leaders that tourism to Burma is inappropriate at present; (d) providing for a meeting of EC/ASEAN Joint Co-operation Committee with only a passive Burmese presence.
Malta
There was a brief exchange under "Other Business" concerning progress on updating the Commission's 1993 Opinion on Malta.
EU/GCC Joint Council
Ministers reviewed relations between the EU and the GCC, and agreed to increase the momentum of negotiations for an EC/GCC Free Trade Agreement. They discussed regional issues such as Iran, Iraq and the Middle East Peace Process, and human rights.
Association Council with Bulgaria
The Council considered the functioning of the Europe Agreement, and Bulgaria's preparations for EU membership.
Kosovo
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's contribution to the OSCE monitoring force in Kosovo. [55906]
Ms Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's contribution to the OSCE monitoring force in Kosovo. [55904]
Mr. Tony Lloyd: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated in the House on 19 October 1998, Official Report, column 954, we shall provide up to 200 verifiers to the Kosovo Verification Mission run by the OSCE.
Britain is already playing a key role in establishing this Mission. Major-General Drewienkiewicz heads a group of 10 British personnel attached to or working alongside the OSCE in Vienna.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many OSCE representatives are currently stationed in Kosovo. [57964]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
There are currently about 25 OSCE representatives in Kosovo. This figure does not include the members of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission (KDOM) who will be folded into the OSCE mission once it is fully up and running.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British participants there will be in the OSCE contingent in Kosovo; and when he expects them to reach the territory. [57963]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stated in the House on 19 October 1998, Official Report, column 954, we shall provide up to 200 members of the Mission. We expect the first contingent of up to 50 verifiers, who will initially be accredited to the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission (KDOM), to arrive toward the end of the week.
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Britain is already playing a key role in establishing this Mission. Major-General Drewienkiewicz heads a group of 10 British personnel attached to or working alongside the OSCE in Vienna. Major-General Drewienkiewicz took part in the OSCE's advance party which visited Kosovo and Belgrade between 18 and 21 October.
Mr. Howard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British participants in the OSCE contingent are currently stationed in Kosovo. [57965]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
At present there is one British secondee to the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission stationed in Kosovo. We expect this to increase to 6 on the ground in 3 November. This is in addition to 3 British monitors in the European Community Monitor Mission/Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission. There is currently a joint FCO/MOD reconnaissance team in Kosovo looking at the practical issues of deploying a further 50 British verifiers by the end of this week.
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