§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the European Union is taking in respect of human rights violations in Algeria. [76871]
§ Mr. FatchettThe European Union takes a close interest in allegations of human rights violations in Algeria. It raises its concerns at both bilateral and multilateral level. The first bilateral dialogue of substance took place in January 1998, when I led the EU Troika of Ministers to Algiers. The presidency has had two further meetings with the Algerian Government since, in Palermo last June led by Robin Cook, and Vienna last October. In Vienna, the Algerian Government agreed to consider individual human rights cases put forward by the presidency. I submitted the UK's contribution, supported by Amnesty International, to the presidency in January.
On a multilateral level, such as the UN Commission on Human Rights, the EU works to persuade the Algerian Government to co-operate with UN human rights instruments and institutions. This year, the UK will work with the EU to try and persuade the Algerians to invite in UN Special Rapporteurs on Extra-judicial Executions and on Torture.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to strengthen the measures taken by the European Union in respect of human rights violations in Algeria. [76872]
§ Mr. FatchettWe support efforts by the European Union to establish a constructive dialogue with the Algerian Government on the issue of human rights. These efforts take place at both a multilateral and bilateral level and have made genuine progress in the past six months.
At this year's UN Commission on Human Rights, the UK will encourage the EU to urge the Algerian Government to invite in UN Special Rapporteurs on Extra-judicial Executions and on Torture.