§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his visit to Murmansk. [75772]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 March 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary had the opportunity, as part of his trip to Russia, to visit the Murmansk region on 3 March to see for himself the scale of one of the largest concentrations of nuclear reactors, spent fuel and waste in the world.
The sheer number of nuclear submarines awaiting decommissioning is stretching the Russian facilities to breaking point. My right hon. Friend saw for himself the "Lepse", which has been used as a storage vessel for spent nuclear fuel rods for the past twenty years and is now in a rapidly deteriorating state in Murmansk Harbour.
My right hon. Friend also met Foreign Minister Ivanov, who welcomed UK assistance in the management of Russian nuclear waste. In particular, my right hon. Friend stressed the importance we attach to Russia reaching agreement with donors on liability and taxation in the field of nuclear assistance.
Whilst at Murmansk, my right hon. Friend was pleased to be able to announce a new British programme, backed by over £3 million in additional funds, to help Russia with these problems.
We are not alone in seeking to resolve these issues. It will take a coordinated international effort and other countries are already making a contribution. The countries of Scandinavia, the United States and the European Union, amongst others, already have programmes dealing with the decommissioning of Russian nuclear submarines 233W and the management of spent nuclear fuel and waste. We hope to work with these other countries and with Russia in building a wider international programme of assistance.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the Russian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister about Russian defence exports in Syria; [75799]
(2) if he will make a statement on his talks with the Russian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. [75771]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 March 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Ivanov in Moscow on 4 March, and had further talks with him and Prime Minister Primakov in Sochi on 5 March. The talks covered a number of current foreign policy issues, including Iraq and Kosovo, Russia's discussion with the IMF, and human rights. The Foreign Secretary emphasised the need for rapid agreement between Russia and the IMF, which he reinforced with a personal message from the Prime Minister. On Kosovo, the Foreign Secretary welcomed Russia's continuing involvement in the search for a lasting settlement. On Iraq, both sides agreed to continue working together for a common position in the Security Council. Arms exports to Syria were not specifically discussed, but the Foreign Secretary and Ivanov agreed on the need to avoid destabilising and uncontrolled arms exports. Ivanov plans to visit the UK in May.
§ Mrs. GillanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Russian Prime Minister about the Christian school in St. Petersburg that is under siege. [75804]
§ Ms Quin[holding answer 9 March 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made no representations to the Russian Prime Minister about the Christian school in St. Petersburg. Our representatives in St. Petersburg and Moscow are, however, following the situation closely as it develops.