Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to help counter disinformation originating in Russia in (a) the Caucasus, (b) Western Balkans and (c) Moldova.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK works closely with international partners to counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), including Russian-linked disinformation in the Caucasus, Moldova and Western Balkans. We work with partner governments, international organisations, civil society and media organisations to counter these diverse and evolving threats, which deepen grievances and fractures within communities. The UK will provide up to £13.5 million of support this year to facilitate the identification of, and responses to, the diverse threats arising from FIMI. The Minister of State for Europe is presently in the Western Balkans and raising this issue directly with counterparts.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, when he last discussed (a) civil and (b) political rights with his Georgian counterpart.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK has worked to support the development of an open, democratic society in Georgia for many years. The Minister of state for Europe discussed issues relating to civil and political rights with the Georgian Ambassador most recently on 2 and 14 May. Her predecessor raised these and a range of other issues with Georgian counterparts during a visit to Tbilisi in November 2023.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) security and (b) political situation in (i) Abkhazia and (ii) South Ossetia.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We closely monitor the political and security situation in the breakaway regions of Georgia. In statements at the UN, Council of Europe and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the UK has repeatedly condemned Russia's illegal presence and 'borderisation' tactics, as well as the Russification of the regions, including through the proposed Russian naval base at Ochamchire and through economic means. The UK fully supports Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, including the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in the face of continued hybrid aggression from Russia.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) security and (b) stability of the Caucasus region.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The UK strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the three states that make up the South Caucasus region. The UK welcomes recent peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the agreed progress on the delimitation of their international border. We wish to see a lasting and sustainable peace settlement reached as soon as possible and stand ready to support this process. The UK remains a close supporter of Georgian democracy and Euro-Atlantic aspirations in line with the will of the Georgian people and stands with Georgia against Russian hybrid pressure.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what his (a) process and (b) timetable is for engaging with (i) governments and (ii) elected representatives on his Department's upcoming strategy refresh on the Overseas Territories.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, working with other UK Government departments, is leading the development of a refreshed strategy for the Overseas Territories (OTs) to be published in 2024. The strategy will set clear direction and renewed aims for the UK Government across each of the following themes: economies, environment and climate, defence and security, governance, and communities. As set out in the December 2023 UK-OT Joint Declaration, the strategy is being developed through collaboration with the Territories. Consultations across the strategy themes are ongoing and are being delivered through engagement with OT governments, the OTs' representatives in the UK, Governors, and other key stakeholders.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has received recent reports on civil and political rights in Georgia; and when he last met (a) his counterpart from and (b) other representatives of the Government in that country.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The British Embassy in Tbilisi reports regularly on developments in Georgia. The UK is committed to supporting a vibrant civil society in Georgia, which is an essential attribute of a healthy democracy. I discussed this and a range of other issues with the Georgian Ambassador on 17 April.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Romania, (b) Moldova, (c) Bulgaria, (d) Ukraine and (e) Türkiye on (i) security and (ii) maritime access in the western Black Sea region.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
A secure Black Sea and freedom of navigation for commercial shipping is essential to regional stability and global food security. The UK has prioritised support for this region, which is why within the past year the Foreign Secretary and his predecessor have visited all the countries mentioned to discuss these very issues. The Minister for Europe discussed regional security at the Moldova-UK Strategic Dialogue on 30 April.
The UK is at the forefront of building Ukraine's future maritime security through our joint leadership of the Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway. This is significantly uplifting Ukraine's naval capacity and creating a greater balance of power in the Black Sea.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, when he last had discussions on the security of the (a) North Atlantic and (b) Arctic with his counterparts in (i) Iceland, (ii) Norway, (iii) the Faroe Islands, (iv) Greenland, (v) Denmark, (vi) Canada and (vii) the US.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We regularly discuss the security of the North Atlantic and Arctic with Allies and Partners, including through NATO and the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force. The Government's Arctic Policy Framework, Looking North: The UK and the Arctic, complemented by the UK's Defence Contribution in the High North, set out the UK's aspiration for a safe, secure and peaceful region. We will continue to work with Allies and Partners to ensure the long-term security and stability of the region.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he is taking steps to deepen diplomatic cooperation with members of the NATO Partnership for Peace programme.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We regularly discuss NATO partnerships with Allies. The Partnership for Peace Programme allows partners to build up an individual relationship with NATO. We are working with Allies to explore ways to strengthen cooperation to address global security challenges, such as support to Ukraine, cyber defence, countering hybrid activities and emerging and disruptive technologies.
Asked by: Stephen Doughty (Labour (Co-op) - Cardiff South and Penarth)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, when he plans to publish the agenda for the European Political Community meeting to be hosted by the UK on 18 July 2024; and whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Hungary on its priorities for the meeting that it will host on 7 November 2024.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
The agenda for the Summit will be set out in due course. The UK-hosted meeting will come at an important moment in efforts to galvanise support for Ukraine. It will also focus on how to work together to grapple with the common challenge of illegal migration across the continent, as well as other issues of shared concern. We are consulting with all European Political Community partners including Hungary as the next hosts.