HC Deb 06 April 1998 vol 310 cc87-8W
Mr. Flight

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role and present activities of the Common Foreign and Security Policy working groups on(a) global disarmament, (b) nuclear non-proliferation, (c) OSCE, (d) planners, (e) protocol, (f) security, (g) terrorism and (h) the United Nations. [37466]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The Common Foreign and Security Policy working groups listed meet regularly to discuss topical issues and areas for cooperation within their respective remits.

On the matter of the present activities of the working groups I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Mr. Campbell) on Friday 27 March 1998, Official Report, column 311.

Mr. Flight

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the impact of his Department's ethical foreign policy on the Common Foreign and Security Policy Working Group for(a) Africa, (b) armaments policy, (c) Asia, (d) Central Europe, (e) conventional arms exports, (f) Eastern Europe and Central Asia, (g) Euro-Mediterranean, (h) human rights, (i) Mashreq/Maghreb, (j) Middle East/Gulf and (k) South East Europe. [37467]

Mr. Doug Henderson

The Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) is the central focus for the Government's efforts to promote human rights in the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). During our Presidency priority has been given to preparation and co-ordination of EU positions for the UN Commission on Human Rights currently underway in Geneva, and for the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York last month. The effectiveness of the UN's human rights mechanisms has also been discussed.

We have also taken forward human rights-related issues in other CFSP Working Groups, for example: in the Conventional Arms Exports Working Group, we have proposed together with France an EU Code of Conduct which will set high common standards for arms exports from all Member States, reflecting the UK's national criteria which state that a licence will not be issued if the proposed export might be used for internal repression or international aggression. in the Africa Working Group we are close to agreeing a common position on human rights and good governance in Africa. In March EU Foreign Ministers agreed a common position on Rwanda setting out the criteria, including on human rights, on which the EU will base its contribution to reconstruction and reconciliation. the Mashreq/Maghreb Working Group prepared a Troika Ministerial mission to Algeria in January led by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), to further the EU/Algeria dialogue, including on human rights issues.