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 Nicaragua counterpart on the human rights situation in that country.

The United Kingdom remains deeply concerned about the situation in Nicaragua. Our Embassy in Costa Rica, which is accredited to Nicaragua, has been following developments closely. The UK was part of EU messages of condemnation and the British Ambassador to Nicaragua released a statement on 5 June calling for an end to the violence. He urged the authorities to protect human rights and thoroughly investigate all human rights abuses.

The Head of Latin America Department met the Nicaraguan Presidential Adviser on International Relations and Policy on 29 May and 5 June to deliver the same messages.

For stability to return, the inclusive national dialogue promised by the authorities should resume under peaceful conditions, with full respect for freedom of expression. We have been clear on both points with the Nicaraguan Government.