§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Macedonia; and when he expects ambassadors to be exchanged with that country.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Skopje on 4 June, and held talks with President Ghigorov and acting Foreign Minister Crvenkovski. He presented a consignment of medicines and medical equipment worth £400,000, the latest stage in the United Kingdom's £2 million emergency aid programme. My right hon. Friend also met representatives from the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe mission, the EC monitor mission and UNPROFOR. The United Kingdom now has a representative in Skopje, who will make practical arrangements for establishing an office there. The timing of an opening of diplomatic relations has not been decided: this will be influenced by progress in the mediation process between Greece and Macedonia.