§ Lord Drumalbynasked Her Majesty's Government:
When they expect the report of the United Kingdom observers sent to the recent elections in El Salvador to be published; and what are its conclusions.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)A copy of the report by Sir James Swaffield and Dr. David Browning was laid on the Table of the House yesterday. The report is being published today and copies have been placed in the Library and the Printed Paper Office.
The report's findings are that a reasonably free and secure election was held; that the voter had real choice; that the armed forces remained strictly neutral; and that the results were apparently accurate and free of fraud. The report concludes that the majority of Salvadoreans reject the extremes of left and right who employ violence and terrorism.
We welcome this further step in the establishment of democracy in El Salvador, and look for similar developments in other countries of the region.