§ 15. Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during his recent visit to Moscow, he discussed with the Soviet Foreign Minister the proposed international forum on human rights.
§ Mr. RentonYes, Sir. My right hon. and learned Friend drew Mr. Shevardnadze's attention to this proposal, tabled by Western delegations at Vienna, and urged that it be given serious consideration.
§ Mr. McKayDoes the Minister agree that, in discussions on human rights with the Soviet Union or any other country, our voice would be stronger, and more notice taken of it, if we expressed our views on human rights in countries such as South Africa and Saudi Arabia, on which this Government seem to he strangely silent?
§ Mr. RentonThe hon. Gentleman is incorrect. We raise our voice about abuses of human rights wherever they occur, whether in Chile, South Africa or Indonesia. and when we think that there is a genuine case.
§ Mr. JannerWhen the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Prime Minister were in Moscow and discussed human rights issues" their approaches on the persecution of Jewish people in that country were much appreciated by both sides of the House. However, have any people allowed out of prison, labour camp or exile been released from the Soviet Union or must those such as Ida Nudel, Vladimir Slepak, who was on hunger strike, and Josef Begun, simply be left to rot in Moscow instead of being allowed out of the country in accordance with the universal declaration of human rights?
§ Mr. RentonI take the hon. and learned Gentleman's point and thank him for his kind words about the work done by the Prime Minister and my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary on the issue of the Jewish refuseniks and others. The hon. and learned Gentleman is right in pointing out that it is not enough to be released from a prison camp or a gulag. It is now necessary for some of those who have been released to obtain their exit visas. We shall work towards that. The hon. and learned Gentleman might like to know about one of the family reunification cases raised by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State. Mrs. Anna Abdulkadyrova has just received permission to leave the Soviet Union to visit her daughter in this country.