§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations Her Majesty's ambassador to Chile has made regarding freedom of expression and association in Chile in the period before the elections, and the conditions in which the opposition operate;
(2) what representations he has made to the Chilean Government on the presidential elections with regard to freedom of choice to Chilean citizens and the free conduct of any electoral campaign.
§ Mr. EggarMy right hon. and learned Friend and I made our views on these matters known directly to the Chilean Foreign Minister last October, as did my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, both privately and publicly, during his own visit to Chile in January. Our ambassador in Santiago also discusses them frequently with the Chilean Government. I refer the hon. Member, additionally, to the statement made by the 12 members of the European Community on 9 October 1987, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. We believe it would help considerably if the Chilean Government lifted the state of emergency in advance of the plebiscite to allow the democratic opposition greater freedom to campaign peacefully.