Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations Security Council raised the detention of political prisoners with Aung San Suu Kyi when they met during the visit of the Security Council delegation to Burma.
Answered by Mark Field
The UK Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York did not raise the detention of political prisoners during the UN Security Council's visit to Burma. The purpose of the Security Council visit was to further its efforts to address the crisis since 25 August 2017 and to urge progress on conditions for refugee returns and on accountability for abuses in Rakhine State.
The British Embassy in Burma has raised the issue of political prisoners on several occasions with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and her ministers. Since her Government took office in April 2016, at least 160 political prisoners have been released. However, we believe there to be still 45 political prisoners in Burma. Our Embassy in Burma continues to support the work of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).
Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Labour - Enfield, Southgate)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What recent diplomatic steps he has taken to support a negotiated solution to the conflict in Cyprus.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We strongly support a settlement. We continue to judge that, with political will, a settlement remains within reach. We have encouraged the Cypriot communities to work towards a resumption of talks and stand ready to discuss how we can support progress.