§ Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the annual reports of the British Russia Centre and British East-West Centre will be available. [16309]
§ Peter HainCopies of the centres' annual report for the financial year 2000–01 have now been placed in the Libraries of both Houses..
The centres received grant in aid of £226,648 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to support their activities in FY 2000–01. In addition, the centres secured funding of £109,346 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for direct expenditure on projects.
The centres manage projects to promote and support the development of democratic institutions, the rule of law and society in Russia, eastern Europe and central Asia. Activities last year included sending election observers to Kyrgyzstan; bidding for and winning a contract for a two-year project to assist in reform of tax systems in Russia, and a project to train young lawyers in the south Caucasus in specialist skills relating to the ECHR.