Russia (Hansard, 5 July 1995)

§ 37. Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met members of the Russian Government to discuss human rights in that country. [30931]

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
My right hon. Friend last met Foreign Minister Kozyrev on 7 June when he made clear our concerns about human rights abuses in Chechnya. There was a detailed exchange on the general human rights situation at official level in Moscow in April. A further such exchange with the Russians will take place here in July.

§ Mr. Miller
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about Britain's relations with Russia. [30898]

§ Mr. Hurd
Russia, and our relationship with Russia, have been transformed in the last six years. We are now dealing with a Russia where democracy is putting down strong roots, where the press is free and where the rules of the market increasingly prevail. Russia has become a valued partner in tackling some of the international problems which confront us.
Britain has played a central role in this process of change. We helped redesign Europe's security arrangements, through the 4+2 process, after the collapse of the Berlin wall. We have pressed for a strong and productive relationship between Russia and NATO, which led to Russia joining the partnership for peace process in May. We have worked together closely over Bosnia, as members of the contact group. We have supported Russian involvement in the annual economic summits.
Britain has offered practical support for Russian reform through the know-how fund—widely regarded as the best of its kind. We have also led the debate in Europe on the need to open our markets to Russian exports. I hope this will be crowned by the signature of the interim agreement later this month.
Our relations with Russia have never been better in this century. They have been strongly reinforced by the Prime Minister's close personal relationship with President Yeltsin and by Her Majesty the Queen's dramatic state visit to Russia last year.