Written question asked by Lord Steel of Aikwood (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 18 July 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 August 2016. It was answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative) on Tuesday, 2 August 2016 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Chagossians: Resettlement

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support the resolution from Mauritius at the forthcoming UN General Assembly calling for the matter of the resettlement of Chagos islanders to be referred to the International Court of Justice.

Answer: We are not aware of any plans by Mauritius for a resolution at the next UN General Assembly regarding the resettlement of Chagos islanders to be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICC). On 17 May the Prime Minister of Mauritius expressed to the Mauritian Parliament his intention to seek a referral by the UN General Assembly to the ICC this autumn, in order to obtain an advisory opinion in relation to sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). We would not support any such resolution as we are in no doubt about British sovereignty over BIOT.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: HL1271
Session: 2016-17
Subjects: British Indian Ocean Territory Mauritius Sovereignty UN resolutions Chagossians International Court of Justice Resettlement UN General Assembly
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk