HC Deb 16 March 1998 vol 308 cc474-5W
Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his meeting of 11 March with Wei Jingsheng. [34723]

Mr. Fatchett

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had a full and friendly meeting with Mr. Wei Jingsheng on 11 March. My right hon. Friend expressed Britain's continuing concerns on human rights in China and briefed Mr. Wei on the EU's agreed position. Mr. Wei recognised that the UK had spoken out strongly about human rights in China.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what time his meeting with Wei Jingsheng on 11 March terminated. [34694]

Mr. Robin Cook

Both I and the Foreign Office Press Office expected Wei Jingsheng to arrive at 12 noon. A photocall had been arranged for that time. I regret that, as a result of an error, Wei Jingsheng was invited for 11 am. As soon as I heard that Wei Jingsheng had arrived, I interrupted the meeting I was in so that I could see him. My meeting with Wei Jingsheng started at 11.15 am and finished shortly before midday. I then resumed the meeting I had earlier interrupted.

Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will made a statement on the Minister of State's visit to Tirana and Skopje on 11 March. [34728]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

I met Foreign Minister Milo and the Minister of State at the Prime Ministry, Islami, in Tirana. I emphasised that Contact Group's support for the Albanian Government's responsible and constructive stand on Kosovo. The Albanians reiterated the Government's commitment to a peaceful solution on Kosovo. In Skopje, I met President Gligorov, Prime Minster Crvenkovski and Foreign Minister Handziski who expressed full support for the Contact Group's position. They warmly welcomed the Contact Group's commitment to maintaining an international military presence on the border of Macedonia.

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