HC Deb 27 March 2001 vol 365 c808
7. Mr. Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock)

Which members of the Government have visited Belgrade since October 2000. [1540931

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Keith Vaz)

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade visited Belgrade on 8 and 9 November. A visit by the Foreign Office is a high priority. The visit to Belgrade by the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, in which my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Mackinlay) participated, was also a success. Federal Foreign Minister Svilanovic was in London on 27 and 28 February.

Mr. Mackinlay

Does the Minister accept that that reply is unsatisfactory? He is responsible for the Balkan region but he has not visited it. He has not been to Belgrade, Pristina, Podgorica or Zagreb. Either there is a shortage of Foreign Ministers or the priorities are wrong. When is he going?

Mr. Vaz

With such an invitation, I should be on the plane tomorrow with my right hon. Friend. I assure my hon. Friend that Foreign Office Ministers are fully engaged in bilateral visits. He may shake his head, but a few weeks ago he chided another colleague about a visit to Poland. We must set priorities, and we have done that. Several Foreign Ministers have visited London. We organised a Balkans taskforce conference last year and several other Foreign Ministers attended it. I know that my hon. Friend is cross. but I assure him that the Balkans are a high priority, ;and I hope to give him some welcome news in the not too distant future.

Mr. Roger Gale (North Thanet)

Further to the points raised by my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) earlier, it is not so very many weeks since the man whom many regard as a dictator, a tyrant and a murderer was invited to Belgium and France. [HON. MEMBERS: "No. 9."] The Foreign Secretary has indicated that he intends to publish the advice that he offered the Belgian and French—

Hon. Members

No. 9.

Mr. Speaker

Order.

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Robin Cook)

If it is not too late, Mr. Speaker, I will answer questions 9, 13 and 14 together.