HC Deb 10 June 2002 vol 386 cc817-8W
Mr. Ancram

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had at the recent EU General Affairs and Defence meeting in Brussels on 13 and 14 May concerning progress on implementing the accord reached by Serbia and Montenegro to dissolve the Yugoslav Federation and form a new union. [59089]

Mr. Straw

At the 13 May General Affairs Council, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana briefed EU Foreign Ministers on the current situation concerning the implementation of Serbia and Montenergro agreement. EU Ministersunderlined the priority … to quickly implement the 14 March agreement".

Mr. Ancram

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent report he has received concerning the progress on implementing the accord reached by Serbia and Montenegro to dissolve the Yugoslav Federation and form a new union. [59087]

Mr. Straw

The UK supports the 14 March Agreement on Principles of Restructuring Relations between Serbia and Montenegro. We believe the Agreement will promote stability in the region, and Serbia and Montenegro's integration into European structures.

The Serbian Parliament and the Montenegrin Assembly ratified the Agreement on 9 April 2002, and the Yugoslav Parliament adopted the Agreement on 31 May 2002. We now look forward to the formation of a commission to draft a constitutional charter. We are fully supporting the efforts of the EU's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Mr. Solana, to encourage the parties to make rapid progress.