§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they and their partners in the European Union have taken to show that violence on the scale seen recently in Algeria is unacceptable; and whether they consider that independent and impartial investigation of its causes is urgently needed. [HL1392]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanHer Majesty's Government have condemned the atrocities which have taken place in Algeria at every available opportunity. During the EU Troika Mission to Algiers, led by the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Derek Fatchett, in Janaury 1998, EU Ministers expressed these concerns to the Algerian Foreign Minister and Prime Minister and encouraged the Algerians to accept a visit by UN Special Rapporteurs. We continue to use every opportunity to remind Algeria of the value of such visits.