Nicaragua (Hansard, 7 March 1990)

§ 33. Mr. Macdonald
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive the report from David Browning on the conduct of the elections in Nicaragua; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Dunnachie
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive the report from David Browning on the conduct of the elections in Nicaragua; and if he will make statement.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
We have already received a preliminary report from Dr. Browning. We expect to receive his definitive report on his return to the United Kingdom. I will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House at the earliest opportunity.
In this preliminary report, Dr. Browning said that, despite a campaign in which the FSLN made maximum use of the inbuilt bias towards it in the prevailing political system and of its control of the state apparatus, the evidence of the polls was that the people of Nicaragua were able to make their choice in a secret and properly administered vote.

§ 40. Ms. Primarolo
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to meet with the newly elected Government of Nicaragua.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no present plans to meet members of the newly elected Government.

§ 67. Mr. Tony Banks
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the outcome of the Nicaraguan elections.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
The election, which all observers judged to be free and fair, gave the people of Nicaragua an opportunity to exercise their right to choose their own Government. We warmly welcome this development, which marks a further strengthening of democracy in the region.

§ 45. Mr. McAvoy
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom-Nicaraguan relations following the election in Nicaragua.

§ 69. Mrs. Fyfe
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to review his policy concerning Nicaragua.
690W

§ Mrs. Mahon
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider changing United Kingdom policy towards Nicaragua.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
It remains our policy to support the Esquipulas II peace agreement and, in particular, its provisions for the establishment of pluralistic democracies throughout central America. The election of 25 February marked a further welcome development in this process, and we look forward to working with the Government of Mrs. Chamorro.

§ Mr. Flannery
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States on the conduct and outcome of the recent elections in Nicaragua.

§ Mr. Sainsbury
We have regular discussions with the United States Administration on a wide range of subjects, including Nicaragua.