Asked by: Karen Lumley (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department provides to Macedonia.
Answered by David Lidington
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides political and technical support to all countries in the Western Balkans with the aim of promoting greater stability and security across the region, including by encouraging progress towards EU accession.
In Macedonia, we are our supporting ongoing efforts to resolve the current political crisis, including through political support to talks between the political parties and technical support to governance, rule of law, human rights, freedom of expression and public administration reform.
Asked by: Karen Lumley (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department provides to Bosnia.
Answered by David Lidington
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides political and technical support to all countries in the Western Balkans with the aim of promoting greater stability and security across the region, including by encouraging progress towards EU accession.
In Bosnia, we have recently, through an initiative with Germany, sought to inject greater momentum in the country’s EU accession path. Our assistance supports public administration reform, strengthening of the judiciary, reconciliation and addressing corruption. We also contribute to the European Union Force (EUFOR) peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.
Asked by: Karen Lumley (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department provides to Serbia.
Answered by David Lidington
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides political and technical support to all countries in the Western Balkans with the aim of promoting greater stability and security across the region, including by encouraging progress towards EU accession.
In Serbia, with EU accession negotiations underway, our assistance supports reforms, including public administration, capacity building of the Ombudsman’s Office, anti-corruption and freedom of expression. We also continue to promote the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo.
Asked by: Karen Lumley (Conservative - Redditch)
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 his international counterparts on possible sanctions to be imposed on the Maldives government.
Answered by Lord Swire
We have not discussed the possibility of sanctions with international partners, though we are keeping all options under review.
We regularly engage with international partners over our concerns in the Maldives, including working through the Commonwealth and European Union. I spoke to the Commonwealth Secretary-General on 16 June to discuss the situation in the Maldives including the importance of political dialogue. We have noted the European Parliament’s joint motion calling for European action against the Maldives.
As the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), said on 24 June there needs to be political dialogue and the release of all political prisoners in the Maldives, including former President Nasheed.
Asked by: Karen Lumley (Conservative - Redditch)
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 threat of Islamic State in (a) the Maldives and (b) other countries outside Iraq and Syria.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The threat posed by ISIL, both to the Middle East and to the rest of the world, is severe. ISIL does not recognise national boundaries, colour or creed. We are aware of the activity of ISIL sympathisers in the Maldives, and we will continue to engage with the Maldives government about the promotion of religious freedom and moderation. We will continue to monitor the threat from ISIL and to work closely with a wide range of international partners, including Iraq and Syria’s neighbours. The UK continues to play a leading role in the comprehensive coalition effort to degrade and defeat ISIL – military action is a necessary part of that effort, but ultimately the solution to ISIL is a political one.
Asked by: Karen Lumley (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in the Maldives; and if he will make representations to the government of that country on the kidnap of the journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla.
Answered by Lord Swire
We continue to be concerned about human rights in the Maldives, not least on freedom of religion, rule of law and women’s rights. We are also concerned by reports that parliamentarians, human rights advocates and journalists have recently been the target of death threats, and by the disappearance and apparent abduction of one journalist on 8 August following death threats.
Officials at our High Commission in Colombo, which is also accredited to the Maldives, have raised concerns on human rights, as well as the recent threats and this reported disappearance, with the Maldives government. We have also urged them to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted as appropriate. The Maldives government has expressed deep concern following the disappearance, and noted that they are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all Maldivians.