§ 31. Dr. HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to meet leaders of the Transcaucasus states of the former Soviet Union; and if he will make a statement about developments in that region.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, has no current plans to meet leaders of the Transcaucasus although I hope there will be opportunities for meetings in the near future.
We attach great importance to encouraging peace and stability in the Transcaucasus and fully support the efforts currently being made to resolve disputes by negotiation. We welcome the start of talks between the Abkhaz and the Georgians under United Nations auspices. We also support the CSCE's continuing efforts to achieve a negotiated settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as its contribution to resolution of the political problems in South Ossetia.