§ Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with(a) France, (b) Germany and (c) Russia. [104010]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe United Kingdom's bilateral relations with France, Germany and Russia remain close. We work with France and Germany effectively on important issues such as European defence and the Convention on the future of Europe, and with Russia on the fight against terrorism. There are areas of policy on which we do not agree on tactics e.g. Iraq. But although our approaches on Iraq may differ, there is no difference between us on the fundamental point of the absolute need to disarm Saddam.