HC Deb 19 October 1988 vol 138 cc961-2W
50. Mr. Ward

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had the opportunity to raise the issue of human rights in Eastern Europe with the Foreign Ministers of the countries concerned.

Mr. Waldegrave

We attach great importance to the observance of human rights commitments. We take every suitable opportunity of raising abuses of human rights, both in general terms and in relation to individual cases where appropriate, with the Governments concerned.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs last raised such issues in meetings with his counterparts in Eastern Europe as follows:

Romania: November 1987 in London
Czechoslovakia: June 1987 in London
Bulgaria: September 1987 in London
GDR: November 1986 in London
Poland: December 1987 in London

In addition, he wrote to the Romanian Foreign Minister in September this year about the human rights implications of Romania's rural redevelopment programme ("systematisation").

Hungary's human rights record, though not faultless, is good by comparison with its neighbours. We have not had cause to raise human rights issues in recent ministerial contacts.