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Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Answer

Sir Jim Lester: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting of the Commonwealth ministerial action group. [28304] Mr. Hanley: I have sent a copy of the concluding statement of the second meeting of the Commonwealth ministerial action group held in London on 23 April to the Library of the House. The group welcomed the transition to an elected civilian government in Sierra Leone in March. It appealed to the international community to assist the Gambia to complete its transition programme to civilian democratic rule. On Nigeria, the group regretted that the Nigerian Government had declined to pursue a dialogue with the Commonwealth since its first meeting and that the human rights situation had continued to deteriorate. Pending further discussion with the Nigerian Government over the next month, the group recommended to Commonwealth member governments the adoption of a number of measures in order to register continuing disapproval of developments in Nigeria and agreed to consult the European Union, the United States and other members of the international community on possible other additional economic measures.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

28304; 277 c211-2W;277 c211W

Session

1995-96

Subjects

Democracy Elections Human rights Sierra Leone Nigeria Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group The Gambia