HC Deb 15 November 1985 vol 86 cc298-9W
Mr. David Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has requested the United States Government at the forthcoming summit meeting between President Reagan and Mr. Gorbachev to raise the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

In recognition of his exceptional humanitarian work in Hungary Mr. Wallenberg was made an honorary citizen of the USA in 1981. This gives the United States Government a locus to raise his case. Whether or not there is value in doing so at the Geneva summit is a judgment for the United States Government to make. President Reagan has made it clear that he attaches importance to discussing human rights in the Soviet Union with Mr. Gorbachev, but has not specified particular cases he may raise.

Mr. Burt

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further discussions he has had with the Government of the USSR concerning the whereabouts of Raoul Wallenberg; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

No further discussions have been held with the Soviet authorities about Mr. Raoul Wallenberg since I raised this sad case with Soviet First Deputy Foreign Minister Kornienko in July in Moscow.

Mr. David Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any evidence regarding the fate of Raoul Wallenberg has been supplied to Her Majesty's Government by the Government of Israel; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rifkind

We have not discussed the case of Raoul Wallenberg with the Israeli Government. Conclusive proof of Mr. Wallenberg's fate could be provided only by the Soviet authorities with whom we have raised the case on a number of occasions.