§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution he made to the 106th Session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 12 and 13 May on war crimes and human rights violation in Chechnya; what response he has made to Recommendation 1456 (2000) of the Parliamentary Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [123295]
§ Mr. VazDue to pressing parliamentary business, no UK Minister was able to attend the 106' session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 10 and 11 May; the UK was represented by our Ambassador, Mr. Andrew Carter. Mr. Carter was closely involved, on the basis of instructions, in the preparation of the influential statement to the meeting delivered by Portugal on behalf of the European Union and in the drafting of the final communique. The Chairman of the meeting, Mr. Brian Cowen, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland, has made clear that the formal response to Recommendation 1456 (2000) of the Parliamentary500W Assembly is to be formulated by the Committee of Ministers before the Parliamentary Assembly next meets, from 26–30 June.