Hague will not urge British PM to reconsider CHOGM attendance
Saturday, 2 November 2013 00:00
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British Foreign Secretary William Hague says he will not urge British Prime Minister David Cameron to reconsider attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo this month saying that while concerns remained about the Sri Lankan human rights situation, Britain needs to be a part of the global discussions at the high level summit.
Responding to a question posed to him in the House of Commons early this week, asking whether Cameron’s announcement confirming attendance six months before the summit was a missed opportunity and if the decision to attend would be reconsidered even at the late stage, Hague responded that it would not.
“The right hon. Gentleman must recognise that the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting will consider matters such as the future of the millennium development goals, expanding international trade and upholding human rights in other parts of the world. We need to be present at those discussions with a quarter of the globe,” Hague told the House of Commons.
Consequences
He said the House must also recognise that the consequences for the Commonwealth of the United Kingdom not attending a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting would be very serious and could be long term. “That is why it is important, and that is why we decided to be there at the table,” the Foreign Secretary said.
“There have been some steps forward in Sri Lanka, which we have to recognise, including the Northern Provincial Council elections that took place in September. They were generally peaceful and well-regarded, but all the issues I listed remain. While there have been some steps forward, many more are needed,” Hague said.
The Foreign Secretary added that Prime Minister Cameron and he would visit the north of Sri Lanka to see for themselves what was happening there.
“We have serious concerns about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, including freedom of expression and judicial independence. I will use my attendance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting to see the situation on the ground and raise our concerns directly with the Sri Lankan Government,” he added.
Hague added that the British Government believed that it was necessary to deliver “in person” the message to investigate all human rights abuses, including the shocking allegations of acts of sexual violence committed during and after the conflict.
“We will urge them to allow free expression and to stop intimidation of journalists, and call on them to bring about reconciliation and political reform,” Hague said.
