§ Mr. Archerasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will initiate discussions in the appropriate international forum on the apparent infringements by the Czechoslovak Republic of article 14 of the international covenant on civil and political rights in respect of the arrest and forthcoming trial of members of the Charter 77 group, and of the reluctance of that Government to admit foreign observers.
§ Mr. BlakerThe United Nations Human Rights Commission will not meet until February 1980, but it is possible that other suitable opportunities to discuss the matter at international meetings may arise. Ministers have already made clear to the Czechoslovak authorities that the Government share the widespread revulsion about the treatment of supporters of the Charter 77 movement in Czechoslovakia, and the member countries of the European Community collectively have also made their deep feelings known. The Government deplore the sentences passed on 23 October on six signatories of the charter, and consider the actions of the Czechoslovak authorities inconsistent with their obligations under the United Nations covenant on civil and political rights, and with the provisions of the Final Act of the conference on security and co-operation in Europe.