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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) representatives of the UK Government have had since August 2003 with members and representatives of (i) the EU, (ii) the governments of the member states of the EU, (iii) the UN, (iv) the government of the US, (v) the government of Russia, (vi) the government of China, (vii) the government of Australia and (viii) the government of India regarding the economic and security situation in Liberia; and if he will make a statement. [210723] Mr. Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed Liberia with the then US Secretary of State Colin Powell in January 2004. I have attended two meetings of the International Contact Group on Liberia, where I met senior representatives of the US, UN, France and the EU. I also met senior UN, US and EU representatives during my visit to Liberia in November 2004; security and the economy were among the issues discussed. UK officials regularly discuss Liberia with the EU and member states at the EU Africa Working Group and the Africa Caribbean Pacific Working Group. There is also frequent contact between UK, US, UN and EU officials in Monrovia, New York and London. This includes discussions over the deployment of Irish, Dutch and Swedish troops to the UN Mission in Liberia. The UK has had discussions with officials from China and Russia in the margins of the Security Council discussions on Liberia at the UN. I am not aware of any discussions with the Governments of Australia or India.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

210723; 430 c428W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Civil servants Australia China EU countries International cooperation Economic situation India Foreign relations Politics and government Ministers Security United Nations USA Russia EU external relations Liberia

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk