Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the BBC World Service regarding the proposal to move the Chinese Language Service to Hong Kong.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We did not hold discussions with the BBC World Service prior to their decision to move some Chinese Language Service posts to Hong Kong. Operational decisions of this nature are for the BBC to take independently of Government.
The BBC has since advised that the entire service is not moving to Hong Kong but that there will be a change in the number of staff based in Hong Kong and London to allow more first-hand reporting in the region.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place at a senior level with the government of Spain regarding a referendum on Catalonian independence, following the regional elections on 27 September.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
There have been no official discussions with the Government of Spain regarding a referendum on Catalonian independence since Catalonia’s regional election on 27 September.Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of recent reports of creeping annexation of Georgian territory by Russia.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK continues to be concerned by ongoing reports of Russian supported borderisation (building fences and putting up “border” signs) along the Administrative Boundary Line with the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. A recent example occurred in July 2015 when so-called border signs were moved closer to the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line. Regular reporting by the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia provides valuable updates on the constant, low-level borderisation process by Russian and South Ossetian personnel.
The UK has a clear policy of non recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia’s claims to independence, and recognises Georgia’s territorial integrity and its sovereignty over these two regions. We reject any actions which will increase tensions and the isolation in communities living along the Administrative Boundary Lines and call on Russia to fulfil all of its 2008 ceasefire commitments, including removing its troops from South Ossetia to pre-conflict positions.
Asked by: Baroness Falkner of Margravine (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of Georgia’s suitability to become a member of NATO.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK supports the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)’s Open Door policy and welcomes the membership aspirations of all countries currently seeking to join the Alliance. Allies declared at the NATO Summit in Bucharest in 2008 that Georgia will one day become a member of NATO. Georgia is a highly valued partner of NATO. Georgia co-operates with NATO through a number of mechanisms which provide Allies with on-going assessments of Georgia’s progress. In 2008, the NATO-Georgia Commission was established to serve as a forum for political consultations and practical co-operation to help Georgia achieve its goal of membership of NATO. At the NATO Summit in Wales, the Alliance also agreed a ‘Substantial Package’ of support for Georgia to strengthen defence capabilities, and interoperability with the Alliance, and provide a new “enhanced partnership” status. Separately Allies agreed to establish Defence Capacity Building Missions in Georgia and Moldova. The UK has contributed £1,750,000 to a new Trust Fund to help facilitate these. Allies will next assess Georgia’s progress in advance of the next NATO Foreign Ministers meeting on 2 December.