CSCE Conference on Human Rights

HC Deb 20 March 1985 vol 75 c531W

64. Mr. David Atkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the forthcoming CSCE conference on human rights in Ottawa.

Mr. Rifkind

The United Kingdom intends to play a full and active part in this meeting which we regard as an important part of the Helsinki process.

In our view, the meeting should both consider the functioning of the human rights' provisions of the Helsinki final act since they were first drawn up and look forward at possible new measures to advance the cause of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the 35 CSCE participating states.

This two-stage approach reflects the mandate for the meeting agreed at Madrid in 1983 and set out in the Madrid concluding document (Cmnd. 9066).