§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken to ensure that the recommendations of the National Reconciliation Forum in Cote d'Ivoire have been implemented, including the granting of nationality to Alassane Ouattara; and if he will make a statement. [66691]
§ Mr. StrawThe UK followed closely the National Reconciliation Forum in Cote d'Ivoire. The Minister for Africa, my noble Friend Baroness Amos, sent a message to the President of the Forum, welcoming its conclusions.
We have taken every opportunity, along with our European partners, to encourage the Ivorian Government to implement the forum's recommendations.
The Government consider the recent granting of a nationality certificate to Mr. Ouattara a positive step forward. We hope that further implementation of the forum's recommendations will follow.
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§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken to ensure that the election process in Cote d'Ivoire prior to the local elections on 7 July has been fair and free for all parties concerned, with special regard to the distribution of identity cards required for voter registration; and if he will make a statement. [66692]
§ Mr. StrawOfficials from our embassy in Abidjan have participated, along with our European partners, in several meetings with the CEI (Independent Electoral Commission) and made representations to the Ivorian Government to emphasise our concerns that the elections should be free, fair and inclusive.
We welcome the Ivorian Government's commitment to distribute new identity cards in advance of the poll on 7 July.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent tensions between Government supporters and opposition party supporters in Daloa, Cote D'Ivoire. [66693]
§ Mr. StrawA state of emergency has been announced and Daloa placed under curfew until 15 July. The Ivorian Minister of the Interior, Boga Doudou, accompanied by the head of the armed forces, General Doue, visited Daloa on 26 June for talks with local political and community leaders in an attempt to defuse the situation further.
We welcome the lvorian Government's actions to calm the situation and support their call to all political parties to exercise restraint during the election campaign.
§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many opposition supporters he estimates were killed during the clashes between Government supporters and opposition party supporters in Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire. [66694]
§ Mr. StrawAccording to official Ivorian Government estimates, six people have been killed and approximately 50 injured in clashes in Daloa, Cote d'Ivoire, since 25 June.