§ Lord Mayhew asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs proposes to join the foreign ministers of the European Community and the Arab League at the Euro-Arab conference in Paris on 21st December.
§ Lord MayhewMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that satisfactory Answer. Is he aware that it will give considerable reassurance to the other Community foreign ministers?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, I am grateful for that.
§ Lord BottomleyMy Lords, will Her Majesty's Government press their EC partners not to grant economic or political assistance to Syria, Libya or any Arab country which supports terrorist organisations?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, certainly. I hope that that item will not appear on the agenda of the meeting. We do not normally have bilateral relations with either of the two countries to which the noble Lord has referred. However, sometimes we meet them at international conferences such as this.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, can the Minister tell the House what will be on the agenda at the meeting? Will it be broadly political or will trade questions be tabled? If so, what will be the nature of the subject of trade that will be discussed?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, I cannot give a full answer to the noble Lord's question because at this stage there is no fixed agenda for the meeting. However, there will be discussion of EC and Arab economic co-operation, reform of the dialogues institutions and political issues. I understand that as yet there is no fixed agenda.