Letter to Rt Hon Lord Malloch Brown, Minister
of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Foreign and Commonwealth
Office from the Chairman of the Committee
I am writing to inquire about the current state
of UK diplomatic representation in the Gabonese Republic. Yesterday
I met a visiting IPU delegation from Gabon. They expressed concern
that there is currently no UK representation at all in their country,
although they maintain a full embassy in London. I was told that
after our embassy closed in 1990, for a time there was an honorary
consul, but even he is no longer in post. The visitors argued
that this lack of representation is disadvantageous for both countries;
and suggested that at the least a "British interests section"
should be set up in another embassy. I would be grateful to receive
the FCO's comments on this matter.
Mike Gapes MP
Chairman of the Committee
28 November 2007
|
