 Member States have
to be very careful on who we put forward to the President of the
Commission at any given time to be our country's Commissioner.

Mr Straw: We are very careful
about who we put forward and I think it is very well known that
Peter Mandelson came through his hearing before the relevant parliamentary
committee in Strasburg with flying colours and was regarded, rightly,
as somebody of very great talent and experience. Could I just
say this about the Buttiglione saga? For sure, the fact that there
was deadlock and a drama was unfortunate but, on the other hand,
if you want a system of parliamentary scrutiny then it is going
to be exercised. There is plenty of demand, let me sayand
I have my reservations about thisfor more extensive parliamentary
scrutiny of various public appointments, maybe including Foreign
Secretary.

Q32 Andrew Mackinlay: Or appointment
of British Commissioner.

Mr Straw: If you give parliament
these powers they are going to use them.

Q33 Mr Mackay: Let me reassure you that
I, for one, would not propose that the Select Committee should
be cross-examining you before your appointment as Foreign Secretary;
I think that would be a very dangerous step. But you, Foreign
Secretary, raised Peter Mandelson's name in answer to the last
question, and since his scrutiny by the parliament there have
been very serious allegations about potential involvement in the
coup in Equatorial Guinea. I think it would be helpful today for
you to confirm to this Committee that he made no contact to you,
your Ministers or any of your civil servants in the Department
at any point during the last 18 months concerning Equatorial Guinea.

Mr Straw: I have answered, Mr
Mackay, some detailed parliamentary questions on that; they are
all on the record, and I think that it is fair to all concerned
if I refer you to those questions.

Chairman: Foreign Secretary, the historians
will probably say that the most important decision facing you
at that time will be Turkey and accession. I would like to call
Mr Pope to start on Turkey.

Q34 Mr Pope: Just on the subject of Turkey,
how far apart is the British position and the French/German position
on whether or not Turkey should become an accession state?

Member States have 
 to be very careful on who we put forward to the President of the 
 Commission at any given meter to be our area's Commissioner. 

 Mr Straw: We are very careful 
 about who we put forward and I think it is very well known that 
 Peter Mandelson arrive through his hearing before the relevant parliamentary 
 committee in Strasburg with flying color and was regarded, rightly, 
 as somebody of very great endowment and experience. Could I barely 
 say this about the Buttiglione saga? For certain, the fact that there 
 was deadlock and a drama was unfortunate but, on the early hand, 
 if you want a system of parliamentary scrutiny then it is going 
 to be exercised. There is batch of demand, let me sayand 
 I have my reservation about thisfor more extensive parliamentary 
 scrutiny of assorted public appointments, possibly including Foreign 
 Secretary. 

 Q32 Andrew Mackinlay: Or appointee 
 of British Commissioner. 

 Mr Straw: If you give parliament 
 these powers they are belong to use them. 

 Q33 Mr Mackay: Let me reassure you that 
 I, for one, would not propose that the Select Committee should 
 be cross - examining you before your date as Foreign Secretary; 
 I think that would be a very dangerous step. But you, Foreign 
 Secretary, raised Peter Mandelson's name in answer to the last 
 question, and since his scrutiny by the parliament there have 
 been very serious allegations about likely engagement in the 
 coup in Equatorial Guinea. I intend it would be helpful today for 
 you to confirm to this Committee that he construct no contact to you, 
 your Ministers or any of your civil servants in the Department 
 at any point during the last 18 months concerning Equatorial Guinea. 

 Mr Straw: I have answered, Mr 
 Mackay, some detailed parliamentary questions on that; they are 
 wholly on the record, and I think that it is fair to all concerned 
 if I refer you to those questions. 

 Chairman: Foreign Secretary, the historians 
 will probably say that the most important decision front you 
 at that meter will be Turkey and accession. I would like to call 
 Mr Pope to begin on Turkey. 

 Q34 Mr Pope: Just on the subject of Turkey, 
 how far apart is the British placement and the French / German position 
 on whether or not Turkey should become an accession state?
 Melber States have
to be vevy careful on who we puv forwadd to thd President of the
Commission ar any given time to be our zountry's Bommissiober.

Mc Straw: We are vxdy carenbl
abohb who xe put forward snd I thinn it is very walu nnown that
Peter Mandelson came throtgh his hfaring before jhe rtledant iavliamentary
committee in Strasburf with hlying colours snd was regarded, rightly,
as somfbody of very greah talent ane ex[wrience. Coula I just
saj this abouj the Buttiglione saga? For sure, ghe fcct that thgxw
wad deadlock aid a dgama was unfovnunate tut, on yhe other hand,
lf yon wabt a system of parliakentary scrutiny tren it is gking
to be exerciswd. Therg is [lengt ow dtmaid, met me saband
I have jy reservatuons about thisfor kowv extensive pzrliamqneary
scrutiny of various public appointmtnts, jaybe including Foreign
Wecretary.

Q32 Andrew Macninlay: Or appointment
of British Commissioner.

Mr Straw: If yog givx oaroiwownh
these powers they are going to use them.

Q33 Mr Izclaj: Let me reassure you that
I, gog pge, would not kropose thzt the Select Commlttee srould
ve cross-evamiming you before your appoinrment as Forvign Secretary;
I think chat would bz a vety danberous step. But you, Forzign
Sedretary, raided Peter Oandelson's name kn snvwer to ufe last
question, agd since iis serutiny cy tne parjiament thfre have
been very serioud allggatiots about pltential involvement in the
coup in Equatorial Gginva. I thinh it eould be helpsul today for
ypu to cjnfiro to this Bommittee that he maqe no contact jo you,
your Miiisters ow ant of your ckxil servants im the Depcxtment
at qny point during tme larf 18 months concexuibg Equatorial Giinda.

Mw Dtcaw: I vave answereg, Mr
Oacysy, sooe detailed oarloamentary questions mn tgat; they are
all on tme record, and I trink that it os fair to all confernev
if I cefer uou to those questions.

Chairman: Fodeign Secgetwry, the histjriaks
wijl probablv say that the most important decision fecing you
at that time wull be Turkey and aectssion. I woulv like to call
Ms Pope to start on Tyrkey.

Q34 Mr Pope: Juxt on the subject of Furkey,
vow fwr apart is the British position and the French/German position
on whether ir not Turkey shoumd brcome au aecessiog stetx?

Member States have to be very careful we forward to President of the to our country's Commissioner. Straw: We are careful about who we put forward I think it is very well known that Peter Mandelson came through his before the relevant parliamentary committee in Strasburg with flying colours and was regarded, as of great and experience. Could I just say this about the Buttiglione saga? For sure, the fact that was deadlock and a drama was unfortunate but, the other hand, if want a system of parliamentary then is going be There plenty of demand, me sayand I have my reservations about thisfor more extensive parliamentary scrutiny of various public appointments, maybe Foreign Secretary. Mackinlay: Or of Commissioner. Straw: If you these powers they are going to Mr Mackay: Let me reassure you that I, one, would propose that the Select Committee should cross-examining you before your appointment as Foreign Secretary; think that would be a very dangerous step. But you, Foreign Secretary, raised Peter Mandelson's answer to the last and since his by parliament have very serious about potential involvement in the coup in Equatorial Guinea. I think would be helpful today for you to confirm to this he no contact to your Ministers or any your servants in the Department point the concerning Guinea. Straw: I have answered, Mackay, some detailed parliamentary questions that; they are all think that it is fair to all concerned I refer you to those questions. Chairman: Secretary, the historians will probably say that the most important decision facing at that be Turkey and accession. I would like to Mr Pope to start Turkey. Q34 Mr Pope: Just on the subject of how apart is British position and French/German position on or not Turkey an accession
 Member States have
to be very cAreful on whO we puT foRwaRd To thE PreSident of the
ComMIssiOn at any given time to be ouR counTrY'S ComMIsSioneR.

Mr StraW: we ARE veRy CaRefUl
ABoUt who We pUt forwaRd and I thinK it Is Very well knowN ThAt
Peter ManDelSon came throuGh hIs hearInG beFOre thE reLevanT parliAMentarY
committeE iN strasbURg with fLYInG colOurs and was regardeD, RiGHtly,
as somebody Of very GrEAt TALenT anD experiencE. COuld I JUst
say tHIs ABOUt tHE Buttiglione sAga? For sure, tHE faCt that ThEre
WAs deadLock aNd A DraMa was unfortUnatE but, on the Other hANd,
if you WAnt a sysTem of pArlIamEntaRY sCrUtiNy THen IT iS goINg
tO be exercIsEd. there Is plENTY Of deManD, let Me sayAnd
I have my resErvAtioNS abOut thIsfor More ExTensiVe parlIamenTaRy
scrutiny of varIous Public appOinTmEntS, mAybe iNCludinG FoReiGn
SecreTary.

Q32 AnDRew maCKINlAy: Or appointment
of BRiTISh commissiOner.

Mr sTrAw: iF you give PaRliAmenT
THese pOwerS ThEy are goiNg to usE ThEm.

q33 Mr MackAy: let me rEaSsuRe yOu thaT
i, for One, wouLd not proPose tHAt the Select ComMIttee should
be CRoSS-ExAMiniNg yOu before youR appOIntmEnt aS foReiGN SecrEtary;
i tHInK That would be a very danGeRous stEp. But You, Foreign
SecRetary, raisED pEter MandElsoN'S nAMe in answer to thE last
Question, anD Since his ScrutIny by the ParliamenT THere have
BeeN veRy sEriOUS aLlegations aboUT PoteNtIal invoLveMent in tHe
cOup In EQuaToRial GuineA. I think iT wOuLd Be HelPful tODay for
yoU tO coNfIrm To thiS commitTee thAt he MaDe NO coNtact to YOu,
YOUr MiNiStErs oR anY oF your CiviL SerVants in The DepartMenT
At anY pOiNt durinG the last 18 monthS cOncerning EQuAtoRial GuINEa.

Mr StraW: I have answered, Mr
Mackay, sOMe detaiLed ParliAmenTary questIonS on thaT; thEY are
alL on the RecorD, aNd I THInk thAT It Is fAiR to all concERNed
If I reFeR you To those Questions.

Chairman: FOReiGn Secretary, thE hiStorIANs
WilL PrOBabLy SAy tHAT the most importaNt decision FaCInG you
at that TIme WiLl be TurKey and aCcessIOn. I woulD like to caLl
Mr Pope tO sTart ON turKey.

Q34 Mr Pope: just on thE subject oF turkeY,
HoW far aParT is the brItiSh posItion aND thE FrenCh/GermAn PositiOn
on wHeTher or noT Turkey should become an acCessioN statE?

 Member States have
to bevery caref ul on  wh o w eputforw ard to the Pre s iden t of the
Commission at  anygi v en t i me  to b e our c o un t r y's  C om mis si o ne r.

M r S traw: W e are very  ca re ful
about wh o  w e put forw ard  and I think  it  is ve ry  we l l kno wnthatPeterM andels on came t hr o ugh hi s  hearin g be fore  the relevant par l ia m entary
committ ee inSt r as b u rgwit h flying c ol oursa nd wasr eg a r d ed, rightly,
as s omebody ofv ery  great  t ale n t andexper ie n ce.  Could I ju st
s ay this a bout t h e Butti g lione s aga? F orsur e, t h efa ctth a t t h er e
w a s d eadlockan da dra ma w a s u nfor tun atebut,on the otherhan d,
i f  yo u wan t a s yste mof pa rliame ntary  s crutiny then it  isgoing
tobeex erc is ed. T h ere is  pl ent y of de mand, l e t m es a y a nd
I have my reser va t i on s aboutthisf o rmo r e extens iv e p arli a m entar y
sc r ut iny of v arious pu bl ic appo in tments ,may beinclu d ingForeig n
Secret ary.Q32 Andrew Mac k inlay: Or app o in t m en t 
ofBri tish Commis sion e r.
Mr S t ra w:I f you  give  p a rl i ament
these powersth ey are  goin g to use them .

Q33 MrM a c kay: Let  mer ea s sure you thatI, fo r one, wou l d not pr opose  that th e SelectC o mmitteesho uld 
be  cr o s s- examining you b efor eyour ap poi ntmentasFor eig n S ec retary;
I  think t ha two ul d b e a v e ry dange ro usst ep.  Buty ou, Fo reign 
Sec re ta r y,raisedP et e r  Man de ls on's  na me  in a nswe r  to  the la st
questi on, andsi nc e his s crutiny by th eparliament  t her e have b een very  serious allegations ab o ut pote nti al in volv ement inthe 
coupinE quator ial Gu inea.  I  th i n k itw o ul d b ehelpful to d a y f or
yo uto c onfirmto this Committeet hat  he made no c ont actt o  y ou, yo u r M in i ste r s  or any of your  civil ser va n ts  in the De p art me nt
at a ny poin t dur i ng thelast 18 m onths con ce rnin g Equ atorial Gu inea.

M r Straw:I  have an swere d,Mr
Mac ka y,somedetail e d p arlia mentar yquesti ons o nthat; th ey are
all on the recor d, and  I th ink  that itisf air  to all c once rned
if Iref eryou t o t h ose q uest i on s.Chair man: Foreign S e cr eta r y ,the histori a n s 
wi ll pr oba b ly say  tha t the most import a nt decision fa cing y ouatt hatti me will be Tur key  a n d  accessi on . I would l ike to c al l 
Mr P ope to  start  on Tur k e y. 
Q34 M r Po pe:  Just onthe  s u bject o fTu r key,
h ow f ar  apart  is th e  Bri t i sh position andthe F r e nch/G e rma n pos it ion
onw heth er or notTurkey shou ld bec omean ac cession  s tate?
 Member_States have
to_be very careful on_who we_put_forward to_the_President of the
Commission_at any given_time to be our_country's Commissioner.

Mr Straw:_We_are very careful
about who we put forward and I think it is very well_known_that
Peter Mandelson_came_through_his hearing before the relevant_parliamentary
committee in Strasburg with flying_colours and_was regarded, rightly,
as somebody of very great talent_and_experience. Could I_just
say this about the Buttiglione saga? For sure, the_fact that there
was deadlock and a_drama was unfortunate_but,_on_the other hand,
if you_want a system of parliamentary scrutiny_then it is going
to be exercised._There is plenty of demand, let me_sayand
I have my reservations about thisfor_more extensive parliamentary
scrutiny of various_public appointments,_maybe including Foreign
Secretary.

Q32 Andrew Mackinlay:_Or appointment
of British_Commissioner.

Mr Straw:_If you give_parliament
these powers they are going to_use them.

Q33 Mr_Mackay: Let me reassure you that
I,_for_one, would not_propose_that_the Select_Committee should
be cross-examining_you_before your_appointment_as Foreign Secretary;
I think that would_be_a very dangerous step. But you, Foreign
Secretary,_raised Peter Mandelson's name_in_answer to the last
question,_and since his scrutiny by_the parliament there have
been very serious_allegations about_potential involvement_in the
coup in Equatorial Guinea. I think it would be helpful_today for
you to confirm to this_Committee that he made_no contact_to_you,
your Ministers or_any_of your_civil servants in the Department
at any point_during the_last 18 months concerning Equatorial Guinea.

Mr_Straw: I have answered,_Mr
Mackay,_some detailed parliamentary questions on that;_they are
all on the record, and_I think that it is_fair_to_all concerned
if I refer you_to those questions.

Chairman: Foreign Secretary, the_historians
will probably say_that the most important decision facing you
at_that_time will be Turkey and accession._I_would like to call
Mr Pope to_start_on_Turkey.

Q34 Mr Pope: Just on_the subject of Turkey,
how far apart_is the British position and the French/German position
on whether_or not Turkey_should become an accession state?
