§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on reports of civil and political rights abuses in Togo. [20639]
§ Mr. BradshawI have been asked to reply.
We deplore the present situation in Togo, where there have been grave human rights abuses.
The European Community suspended aid to Togo in 1993. We are working closely with EU partners to maintain pressure on the Togolese Government to observe the principles of democracy and human rights. In October the EU issued a public statement raising its concerns about the deteriorating political atmosphere, stressing the need for the parliamentary elections scheduled for early 2002 to be held in a free and transparent manner, and calling for the unconditional release of an opposition party leader still held in detention.