HC Deb 13 September 2004 vol 424 cc1454-5W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with(a) the Venezuelan Government, (b) the Venezuelan Opposition Parties and (c) the organisers of the petition for a recall referendum on President Chavez regarding this recall referendum; and if he will make a statement. [186389]

Mr. Rammell

None. However, our Embassy in Caracas has a regular dialogue with all sides in Venezuela. I refer my hon. Friend to my press statement, issued on 17 August on the outcome of the recall referendum on 15 August. I called on all sides in Venezuela to respect the result of the referendum, as endorsed by the international observers, and work towards national reconciliation. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had discussions with President Chavez of Venezuela about the current unrest in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement. [186390]

Mr. Rammell

Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary nor I have held any discussions with President Chavez. We have consistently urged all sides in Venezuela to follow the democratic path, work towards a constitutional resolution to the political unrest and strive for national reconciliation. I made this clear in my press statement, issued on 17 August, on the outcome of the recall referendum on 15 August. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/ news/press-releases.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government will play an independent role in monitoring the recall referendum which is due to take place in Venezuela in August; and if he will make a statement. [186415]

Mr. Rammell

We did not participate as observers of the recall referendum on 15 August, either independently or otherwise. We fully support the official observers of the referendum, the Organisation of American States and the Carter Centre. 1 commended them in my press statement on 17 August on the outcome of the referendum. I called on all sides in Venezuela to respect the result of the referendum, as endorsed by the international observers, and work towards national reconciliation. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases.