HL Deb 30 November 1987 vol 490 cc919-20WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will identify the "over 20 worldwide discussions" (apparently on East-West relations) referred to by the Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in col. 108 of HC Debs, 22nd October 1987.

Lord Glenarthur

There are more than 20 discussions taking place worldwide which may produce agreements relevant to improving East-West relations. Since my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. David Mellor), spoke on 22nd October we have concluded two such agreements with the Soviet Union on road transport and drugs. We are also discussing a visa understanding with the Soviet Union and will shortly be signing an investment promotion and protection agreement (IPPA) and a health co-operation agreement with Poland. We are also discussing cultural agreements with several East European countries.

With our partners in the EC we are involved in talks on economic and commercial co-operation agreements with CMEA, Hungary, Romania and Czechoslovakia.

In the arms control field, the Geneva nuclear and space talks have now produced the prospective INF agreement. The talks on strategic arms and space are continuing. The US and Soviet Union are also negotiating about nuclear testing issues.

On a multilateral basis, the MBFR talks in Vienna are continuing. The conference on disarmament at Geneva is considering eight different subjects, the most important of which is aimed at obtaining a global chemical weapons ban. The latest CSCE review meeting is also currently taking place in Vienna, though this is due to end in the next few months. The talks cover a range of distinct items, in the three baskets. The conventional stability mandate talks will produce, we hope by spring next year, a format for formal negotiations.

Other bilateral discussions currently taking place include those between the FRG and the Soviet Union on the exchange of consulates, between Norway and the Soviet Union on the delimitation of the Barents Sea and between the US and Soviet Union on the North Pacific delimitation.