§ Mr. OatenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions his Department has had with(a) the Russian Government, (b) the Turkish Government and (c) the United States Government, regarding restrictive regulations on registration of religious groups and religious persecution in Turkmenistan; [84553]
(2)what reports his Department have received regarding harassment and persecution of religious groups in Turkmenistan; and if he will make a statement; [84550]
(3)what steps he has taken to ensure that goods shipped from the UK under UK and EU export control regulations to Turkmenistan (a) have not been and (b) will not be used for internal repression or torture; [84580]
(4)what representations his Department has made to the Government of Turkmenistan regarding (a) restrictive regulations on the registration of religious groups in the country and (b) harassment of religious groups and repression of religious activity; [84551]
(5)what UK delegations to Turkmenistan are planned; and if he will make a statement; [84552]
(6)if he will raise the issue of restrictions on religious groups and their harassment and persecution in Turkmenistan at the tenth OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Portugal; and if he will make a statement. [84549]
§ Mr. Mike O'Brien[holding answer 2 December 2002]: We are concerned at Turkmen Government actions aimed at restricting the activities of religious groups. We regularly monitor reports from Turkmenistan and meet representatives of religious groups, such as Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Solidarity Worldwide, to discuss the situation in the country.
Senior UK officials have discussed the repression of human rights in central Asia with representatives from other countries (including Russia and Turkey). Together with EU and US colleagues, we use every opportunity to raise cases of religious persecution with the Turkmen Government, and we believe our representations helped to secure the release of the Baptist, Atakov. Most recently, our Ambassador wrote to the Turkmen Foreign Minister on 1 November requesting the release of religious and other prisoners.