§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they recently received, or invited, the leader of the Popular Front, an opposition party in Belarussia, and, if so, what did they commit themselves to if the Popular Front does well in the May election and makes arrangements for Belarussia to leave CIS; and whether they have promised any funds to this party or procured anyone else to do so.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)Mr. Poznyak visited Britain at the invitation of the FCO. His programme, which was designed to give him an understanding of British democratic structures, included a call on my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Hogg). We made no commitments in the event of Belarus making arrangements to leave the Commonwealth of Independent States, nor did we undertake to provide funding to the Belarussian Popular Front, nor have we asked anyone else to do so.