§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the Government of Eritrea about the incommunicado detention of 11 persons since 19 September. [HL2048]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos)On 25 September FCO officials called in the Eritrean Ambassador to London to protest at the actions of Eritrean Government and pressed for the immediate release of all those detained and the restoration of the independent press. I issued a public statement on 27 September expressing the Government's dismay over the recent events in Eritrea.
The EU protested collectively on 28 September when the Italian Ambassador to Eritrea, in his capacity as the local presidency, carried out an EU demarche on the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Later the same day the Italian Ambassador was expelled. We and our EU partners protested to the Eritreans. EU heads of mission to Asmara were subsequently recalled.
At the EU's Africa Working Group Meeting in October partners agreed that the heads of mission would only return to Asmara once President Issayas had agreed to meet them to discuss the EU's concerns. However, with no movement from the Eritreans, the EU presidency subsequently proposed the return of heads of missions in an attempt to secure a call locally. The heads of mission returned to Asmara in the week beginning 5 November.
On 23 November EU heads of mission met Issayas to discuss the internal situation and prospects for EU/Eritrea relations. Issayas was unrepentant and resisted any discussion of Eritrea's internal situation.
With our EU partners we are looking at further options to encourage the Eritrean Government to revise their position.