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22 May 2008 : Column 521W—continued
Vietnam: BBC External Services
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution made by the BBC World Service Vietnamese service in promoting democracy and human rights in Vietnam. [205419]
Mr. Jim Murphy [holding answer 13 May 2008]: The BBC Vietnamese Service was assessed as part of a periodical regional review of South East Asia in October 2006. The service scored highly for its valued, impartial, uncensored coverage of Vietnamese domestic issues. The content on the BBC’s Vietnamese Service, both on radio and online, has included features on democracy and human rights.
Western Sahara: Human Rights
Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2008, Official Report, column 2361W, on Western Sahara: human rights, whether the Minister of State has raised the human rights situation in Western Sahara in discussions with the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Fassi Fihri. [205779]
Dr. Howells: Foreign Minister Fassi Fihri and I discussed a range of issues relating to Morocco and Western Sahara in the UK-Morocco Ministerial Dialogue meeting of July 2007. On 22 April 2008,1 co-chaired the third round of the Dialogue with Deputy Foreign Minister Latifa Akherbach in Rabat, where we again discussed recent developments relating to Western Sahara. I reiterated the UK’s support for the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, Peter van Walsum, and stressed the need for both parties to work towards a negotiated settlement providing for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. I also encouraged greater transparency in the field of human rights in Western Sahara in order to foster greater confidence between the parties.
Mark Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham of 25 April 2008, Official Report, column 2325W, on Western Sahara: human rights, whether the ambassador has discussed the human rights situation in occupied Western Sahara with Moroccan government officials; and when members of the
ambassador's staff last visited the occupied Western Sahara. [205780]
Dr. Howells: The UK is concerned about the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict in Western Sahara. Our ambassador in Rabat discusses a range of issues relating to Western Sahara with Moroccan officials. The most recent high level discussions took place at the UK-Morocco Ministerial Dialogue Forum in Rabat on 22 April, where I discussed a range of issues, including human rights, with the Moroccan Deputy Foreign Minister, Latifa Akherbach.
Diplomatic staff at our embassy in Rabat visited Western Sahara in May 2006. I anticipate further such visits in the near future.
Zimbabwe: Elections
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to co-ordinate a mission of international observers to be sent to Zimbabwe; and when a mission is expected to be in place. [204846]
Meg Munn [holding answer 12 May 2008]: We are urging the Government of Zimbabwe to invite the widest range of international observers, including from the Southern African Development Community countries and the African Union, for any second round of the elections. Once they are deployed, we will press for all observer teams and missions to fully co-ordinate their efforts including with local observers on the ground.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that Zimbabwe accepts the presence of international election observers in advance of any run-off to decide the result of the Presidential election. [204847]
Meg Munn [holding answer 12 May 2008]: We are urging the Southern African Development Community and African Union leaders and others in the wider international community to join us in pressing the Government of Zimbabwe to allow the deployment of sufficient international observers well in advance of any second round of the presidential election. This is a necessary precondition for a free and fair second round election.
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of President Mbeki's work on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to assist in resolving the situation after the presidential elections in Zimbabwe; and what discussions the Government has had with SADC members on this subject. [206026]
Meg Munn: We welcome the continued engagement of President Mbeki and other African leaders, both from within and outside the region, in efforts to resolve the electoral crisis in Zimbabwe. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, the right hon. Lord Malloch-Brown, and our high commissions are in close and regular contact on this subject with the Southern African Development Community Heads of State and Foreign Ministers.
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