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Written Question
Sri Lanka
Monday 21st July 2014

Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on steps to bring to justice people responsible for the recent inter-communal violence in that country.

Answered by Lord Swire

We continue to raise our concerns about attacks against religious minorities in Sri Lanka with the Sri Lankan government, including the most recent violence in Aluthgama and Beruwala. Through our High Commissioner in Colombo, we have urged the Sri Lankan government to take early action to promote peaceful co-existence between all communities, noting the importance of ensuring any acts of violence, intimidation or threats are thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice.

On 7 July, I also met members of the Sri Lankan Muslim community resident in the UK whose family and friends were directly affected by recent violence in order to hear their concerns.

Written Question
Zimbabwe
Monday 14th July 2014

Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made relations with the government of Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Mark Simmonds

We remain committed to supporting the Zimbabwean people in achieving a prosperous and democratic future, including through engagement with the Government of Zimbabwe. The UK continues to hold regular high-level meetings with the government and others across the political spectrum to promote democracy and good governance and discuss a range of issues.

Written Question
Egypt
Monday 30th June 2014

Asked by: Diane Abbott (Independent - Hackney North and Stoke Newington)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he plans to make to his Egyptian counterparts on the seven year jail terms handed down to three Al-Jazeera journalists; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Hugh Robertson

The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) made a statement on 23 June expressing his concerns and urging the Egyptian Government to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression by reviewing this case as a matter of urgency.

The Egyptian Ambassador Ashraf el-Kholy was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 23 June. FCO Political Director, Simon Gass told the Egyptian Ambassador that the British Government was deeply concerned by the verdicts, and with the procedural shortcomings of the trials. The British Ambassador to Egypt also raised this issue in Cairo with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 June. We will continue to raise this case with the Egyptian authorities.