HL Deb 28 April 1999 vol 600 cc39-40WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What officials of the Government and armed forces of Bahrain they have received during the month of April. [HL2129]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Director Middle East and North Africa, FCO, received Shaikh Abdul Aziz, the Bahraini Ambassador to London, at the Foreign Office on 1 April. They discussed a range of bilateral issues.

To the best of our knowledge, Her Majesty's Government has not received any other officials of the Bahraini government or armed forces during April 1999.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received or sought information from the Government of Bahrain on the date of the resumed hearing of the case against Shaikh Abdul Asmir al-Jamri; and whether they will ask the Government of Bahrain for permission to send a representative of the British Embassy to attend the proceedings. [HL2130]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We have not received or sought any information from the Government of Bahrain on the date of the resumed hearing of the case of Shaikh Al-Jamri, owing to the period of official mourning following the death of Shaikh Isa.

We requested permission to send a representative from the British Embassy to attend the trial on 22 February.