HC Deb 23 December 1976 vol 923 cc247-8W
Mr. Warren

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the Helsinki Final Act, he will make immediate representations to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics about the arrest of members of the Organising Committee of the Jewish Cultural Symposium in Moscow on the eve of the commencement of this international conference.

Mr. Tomlinson

The Government share the deep concern that is rightly felt in Britain about human rights questions. Ministers take every suitable opportunity to bring to the attention of the Soviet authorities the strength of feeling aroused by certain aspects of their domestic policies and will continue to do so.

The Government attach particular importance to the 7th Principle of the Helsinki Final Act whereby participating States undertook to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Government will not be satisfied until all of the points in the Final Act have been met by all of the signatory states.

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