§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations via the British Embassy in Ankara to the Turkish Government to request that the death penalty will not be used against the suspect accused of murdering Edgar Fernandes. [68169]
§ Mr. FatchettIt is for the Maltese Government to make representations to the Turkish Government to request the death penalty is not used against the suspect. The UK, along with our EU partners, opposes the use of the death penalty, and calls upon all States to abolish it.
§ Mr. VazTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the meeting between Baroness Symons and the Turkish Ambassador on 7 January 1999 in respect of the Edgar Fernandes case; what was the result of that meeting; and what action his Department has taken since then. [68170]
§ Mr. FatchettMy noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State had a private meeting with the Turkish Ambassador on 7 January 1999 at which they discussed a variety of bilateral issues. Our staff in Ankara and Valletta remain in touch with the Turkish and Maltese Governments respectively about the extradition of Mr. Mohammed Abdul Monem Abbas Aly.