Written Question
Wednesday 31st July 2019
Asked by:
John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question
to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Peru on freedom of the press and the role of investigative journalists in that country.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
The British Ambassador in Peru raised Media Freedom with Foreign Minister Popolizio on 24 June, extending to him an invitation to the Global Conference on Media Freedom in London in July.
In his opening speech at the Conference, the former Foreign Secretary hailed the work of Investigative Journalist Gustavo Gorriti of IDL-Reporteros, noting that he "has brought to light a series of corruption scandals involving business, the government and the judiciary". Mr Gorriti sent a video message in support of the Conference, and his fellow investigative journalists Paola Ugaz and Pedro Salinas were able to attend at the British Government's invitation.
The United Kingdom is fully committed to the promotion of media freedom and the protection of journalists. In 2019, the former Foreign Secretary announced our launch of the international campaign to end the climate of impunity and mobilise a consensus behind protection of journalists worldwide. We are currently considering how this campaign can best add value and reinforce existing mechanisms, including those of the UN and other international organisations. We have held discussions with Reporters Without Borders and are actively reviewing their proposal for a dedicated UN position on this issue.
Written Question
Wednesday 31st July 2019
Asked by:
John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question
to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Government of Albania and (b) political parties in Albania on the boycott of that country's Parliament by opposition parties.
Answered by Christopher Pincher
We hold regular discussions with the Government of Albania and opposition parties and have urged both sides to engage in dialogue to resolve their political differences. The previous Prime Minister raised the need for political dialogue with Prime Minister Rama at the Poznan Summit. The then Minister of State for Europe and the Americas also saw acting Foreign Minister, Gent Cakaj, in Poznan, where they discussed the impasse in Albania and broader political challenges in the Western Balkans.
Written Question
Tuesday 30th July 2019
Asked by:
John Grogan (Labour - Keighley)
Question
to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Steppe Inn at the British Embassy in Ulaanbaatar to promote UK soft power.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Steppe Inne is a well-known institution at the British Embassy in Ulaanbaatar and has hosted Embassy contacts, Mongolian and British alike, for more than 30 years. With the forthcoming move to new Embassy premises, the Steppe Inne will close but plans are being developed to arrange Steppe Inne nights at an alternative venue in Ulaanbaatar. The Steppe Inne has played a role in UK soft power but is part of a much wider Embassy effort to promote British interests in Mongolia.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 03 Jul 2019
Chagos Islands: UN General Assembly Resolution
"Will the Minister give way?..."John Grogan - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 03 Jul 2019
Chagos Islands: UN General Assembly Resolution
"The Minister is very generous. I think that he was directly asked whether he or another Minister would come to the all-party parliamentary group to discuss this issue in more detail, out of respect for Parliament. Is that date definitely in the Minister’s diary now? Has the United Kingdom had …..."John Grogan - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 05 Mar 2019
UK Relations with Kosovo
"I beg to move,
That this House has considered UK relations with Kosovo.
There have been three major debates about Kosovo in the history of this House. It is fitting to have this debate this month, because the first of those three debates took place in the shadow of war, …..."John Grogan - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 05 Mar 2019
UK Relations with Kosovo
"The hon. Gentleman is completely right about the efforts that the British and others have made to train the police and the army. I understand that, on average, four cadets each year train in the United Kingdom.
There are still heavy tariffs between Kosovo and Serbia. That decision was made …..."John Grogan - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 05 Mar 2019
UK Relations with Kosovo
"The hon. Gentleman is right; human rights are very important, as is the Council of Europe’s work in Kosovo. The treatment of the Serb minority is important to Kosovo’s reputation and future.
The diaspora of 30,000 in the United Kingdom are important to encourage economic links. There are Kosovan students …..."John Grogan - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 05 Mar 2019
UK Relations with Kosovo
"Yes. During our visit we heard many people praise the work of the British Council in Pristina and elsewhere in Kosovo. We also met the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which is very active and engages with all the political parties.
It would be wrong when talking about the diaspora not …..."John Grogan - View Speech
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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 09 Jan 2019
Journalists: International Protection
"George Orwell said:
“Freedom of the press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticise and oppose.”
I will offer three reflections on that statement in three minutes, but before I do so, I congratulate the right hon. Member for Maldon (Mr Whittingdale) on his exposition, which …..."John Grogan - View Speech
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