§ 48. Mr. McKelveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government have any plans to send an official group of observers to the Nicaraguan elections.
§ Mr. EggarWe have told the Nicaraguan Government that we would be ready to appoint an official observer if an invitation is received. We await their response.
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§ 68. Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the progress towards democracy being made by Nicaragua.
§ Mr. EggarNo. When my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister saw President Ortega on 8 May, she made clear her concern that recent legislative reforms fall far short of the democratisation promised and were potentially restrictive. Recent events have tended to confirm our fears. We are also concerned at Nicaraguan attempts to impose unacceptable restrictions on diplomats' ability to report on the election campaign. We hope that steps will be taken by the Nicaraguan Government to rectify this situation.
§ 51. Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will visit Nicaragua in the near future to discuss democracy in that country.
§ Mr. EggarMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to visit Nicaragua.