§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Romania from 1 to 3 June and Bulgaria from 3 to 4 June. The objectives of his visit were to assess and encourage political and economic reform: to explain British policy on former Yugoslavia and to urge rigorous enforcement of United Nations sanctions. My right hon. Friend saw at first hand the work of the sanctions assistance mission team on the Danube, working with the local customs authorities.
In Romania he had meetings with President Iliescu, Prime Minister Vacaroiu and Foreign Minister Melescanu, the presidents of both chambers of Parliament and opposition leaders. My right hon. Friend addressed a joint session of the Romanian Parliament. In Bulgaria, he had discussions with President Zhelev and Prime Minister Berov, the chairman of the National Assembly and representatives of the main parliamentary parties.
In both countries, my right hon. Friend discussed bilateral relations including in particular parliamentary links and prospects for British investment. Both Bulgaria and Romania are intent on developing their links with the west and sought our support for this. They are also anxious for recognition for the losses which their economies have suffered as a result of United Nations sanctions against Serbia.
Our relations with Bulgaria and Romania are developing quickly and we are able to discuss issues frankly, including such problems as the dismissal of the director general of the Bulgarian news agencies, and parliamentary control of the Romanian security services. My right hon. Friend encouraged both Governments to press on with the reform process and promised our support for them in this difficult challenge.
My right hon. Friend's itinerary did not include Hungary, which he visited from 4 to 7 May. I refer the hon.
386WGentleman to the oral answer my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Colchester, North (Mr. Jenkin) on 12 May, at column 787.