HC Deb 28 June 1988 vol 136 cc188-9W
Mr. David Atkinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent talks in Moscow between his officials and the Soviet Foreign Ministry on human rights.

Mr. Mellor

The first round of official level talks on human rights, held on 23–24 June in Moscow, was useful and forward-looking. The British side raised a wide range of human rights issues including family reunification; individual human rights cases; freedom of conscience and religious belief, emigration, psychiatric abuse, legal reform an the CSCE process. The Soviet side raised a number of issues of concern to them about British legislation and practice. Both sides agreed that a regular dialogue on human rights should be established. Individual cases will be followed up as appropriate.

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