HL Deb 10 December 1998 vol 595 c104WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will raise with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe the suitability of Turkey as host country for the organisation's summit conference in 1999. [HL105]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

On 2 December, at the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Oslo, OSCE Foreign Ministers agreed by consensus that the next OSCE summit should be held in Istanbul in 1999. The United Kingdom did not oppose this decision.

The Government do not intend to raise within the OSCE Turkey's suitability as host country for the next summit. As stated in my Written Answer to the noble Lord of 20 April 1998 (WA 189), the Government believe that holding the summit there will draw attention to Turkey's human rights record and help advance the OSCE's dialogue with Turkey on human rights.