Indian Ocean (Ministerial Visit)

HC Deb 22 May 1985 vol 79 cc456-7W

38. Mr. Soames

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on political developments in the Indian ocean following the recent visit by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind).

Mr. Rifkind

We hope that progress can be achieved in regional co-operation and development now that the Indian Ocean Commission has been expanded to include not only Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles, but, as from January this year, Comoros. Member states also agreed in principle to the adhesion of Reunion (France), the details of which are still to be worked out.

The United Kingdom has good relations with the countries in the area as illustrated by the very successful visits which I paid to Mauritius and Madagascar in May this year and to Seychelles in July last year.