To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what dates he had (a) discussions and (b) meetings with the European Union Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region on the situation in the region in the last 12 months. (274803)

[holding answer 12 May 2009]: There have been no meetings between my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and the EU Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, Roeland van de Geer, in the last 12 months.

My noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, met Mr. van de Geer on 28 May 2008 and on 4 September 2008. They also both attended the regional summit held by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region in Nairobi on 7 November 2008.