§ 32. Ms Rachel SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met representatives of the Russian Government to discuss security and co-operation in Europe.
Mr. He,athcoat-AmoryWhen my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary visited Moscow in February, they discussed a range of issues with members of the Russian Government, including security and co-operation in Europe. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mamedov recently discussed these issues in London with my right honourable and learned Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which countries along the border of the former Soviet Union Russian forces are currently deployed.
§ Mr. GoodladThere are currently Russian forces in Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, the Transcaucasus and Central Asia, as well as in Latvia and Estonia.
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§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the Russian plan to establish or confirm bases in countries which formerly belonged to the Soviet Union.
§ Mr. GoodladThere have been reports that Russia intends to establish or confirm up to 30 bases in the rest of the former Soviet Union, on the basis of agreement with the Governments of the countries concerned.
§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries in which Russian forces are currently deployed(a) with the agreement of the Government concerned and (b) without agreement.
§ Mr. GoodladMoldova has asked for the withdrawal of the Russian 14th army. The future of the Black sea fleet is currently under discussion between Russia and Ukraine. An agreement has been signed between Russia and Latvia on withdrawals of Russian troops from Latvia by 31 August. Estonia is seeking the withdrawal of Russian troops by 31 August. We are not aware of objections, on the part of the Governments concerned, to the presence of Russian troops in any other countries where they are currently stationed.
§ 37. Mr. Ian TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Russian Foreign Secretary about Russia's intentions in its near abroad.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Russia's policy towards the other states of the former Soviet Union with the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr. Kozyrev, when he was in Moscow with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in February.