HC 461 - Gibraltar: Time to Get Off the Fence

HC 461 - Gibraltar: Time to Get Off the Fence PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215073282
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
Spain has long disputed the UK's sovereignty over Gibraltar, but since 2012 its Government has taken a more hard-line approach and has significantly increased its pressure on Gibraltar and its people. Over the last three years, Gibraltarians have suffered long border delays; maritime incursions; and heightened rhetoric from Spanish ministers about its sovereignty and its economic affairs. There is even a continuing refusal to allow direct military movements between Gibraltar and Spain, including among NATO partners. This report considers the reasons for the increased tension, including Spanish allegations against Gibraltar's financial system and smuggling controls, as well as suggestions that Spain is seeking to distract from its own domestic troubles. The Committee regrets that dialogue between the UK, Gibraltar and Spain has been suspended over the last three years, and asks the Government to set out how it intends to secure talks before the next election. In the meantime, the Committee recommends that the Government increase its use of its own diplomatic measures toward Spain, by intensifying its use of diplomatic protests and summoning the ambassador, as well as making the UK's support for Spanish aims on the international stage dependent upon improvements to the situation in Gibraltar.

HC 461 - Gibraltar: Time to Get Off the Fence

HC 461 - Gibraltar: Time to Get Off the Fence PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Foreign Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215073282
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
Spain has long disputed the UK's sovereignty over Gibraltar, but since 2012 its Government has taken a more hard-line approach and has significantly increased its pressure on Gibraltar and its people. Over the last three years, Gibraltarians have suffered long border delays; maritime incursions; and heightened rhetoric from Spanish ministers about its sovereignty and its economic affairs. There is even a continuing refusal to allow direct military movements between Gibraltar and Spain, including among NATO partners. This report considers the reasons for the increased tension, including Spanish allegations against Gibraltar's financial system and smuggling controls, as well as suggestions that Spain is seeking to distract from its own domestic troubles. The Committee regrets that dialogue between the UK, Gibraltar and Spain has been suspended over the last three years, and asks the Government to set out how it intends to secure talks before the next election. In the meantime, the Committee recommends that the Government increase its use of its own diplomatic measures toward Spain, by intensifying its use of diplomatic protests and summoning the ambassador, as well as making the UK's support for Spanish aims on the international stage dependent upon improvements to the situation in Gibraltar.

HC 954 - Legacy Report

HC 954 - Legacy Report PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Liaison Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215084624
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 65

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Book Description


HC 842 - Hong Kong: China's Ban On The Committee's Visit

HC 842 - Hong Kong: China's Ban On The Committee's Visit PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Foreign Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215080742
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Book Description
In July 2014, the Committee launched an inquiry into the UK's relations with Hong Kong, 30 years after the signing of the Joint Declaration. As part of this inquiry, they planned to visit Hong Kong to speak to a wide range of interlocutors about the UK-Hong Kong relationship. The Chinese and Hong Kong authorities informed the Committee that they considered this to be interference in China's internal affairs and they urged a halt to the inquiry. On 28 November, the Chinese Deputy Ambassador informed the Committee that the Chinese government would take any necessary measures to prevent the Committee from visiting Hong Kong, forcing the postponement of the visit. It was made clear that the Committee would be prevented from entering Hong Kong, despite the fact that, as UK nationals, no visa for entry was required. The Committee considers the ban by China to be unprecedented, and sees it as an obstruction to the conduct of the Committee's parliamentary duties.

HC 605 - The FCO's Performance and Finances in 2013-14

HC 605 - The FCO's Performance and Finances in 2013-14 PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Foreign Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215081722
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description
The cuts imposed on the FCO since 2010 have been severe and have gone beyond just trimming fat: capacity now appears to be being damaged. If further cuts are imposed, the UK's diplomatic imprint and influence would probably reduce, and the Government would need to roll back some of its foreign policy objectives. The FCO's budget is a tiny element of Government expenditure, but the FCO makes disproportionate contribution to policy making at the highest level, including decisions on whether to commit to military action. The next Government needs to protect future FCO budgets under the next Spending Review.

HC 551 - The FCO's Human Rights Work in 2013

HC 551 - The FCO's Human Rights Work in 2013 PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Foreign Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215078861
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 64

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Book Description
The FCO designated 28 countries of concern in its 2013 report, where it judged the gravity of the human rights abuses to be so severe that a particular focus should be applied. The Committee concentrated attention on three of these countries: Sri Lanka, Burma, and Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Favourable trade concessions to the EU market should be removed from Sri Lanka if the Government of Sri Lanka continues to deny the OHCHR investigation team access into the country. The Government should advocate re-imposition of sanctions by the EU if there is no improvement in the human rights situation in Burma. The human rights of Israeli, Palestinian and Bedouin citizens living in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories continue to be of serious concern to the UK.

HC 564 - UK Government Policy on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

HC 564 - UK Government Policy on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Foreign Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0215081102
Category : Great Britain
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Book Description
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is a genuine, if developing, democracy. It is also a haven of tolerance and stability in a critically unstable region where those values are needed more than ever. It has huge strategic value to the UK as a bridge to other regional powers, is a key bulwark against ISIL, and has significant oil and gas potential. But it is also vulnerable and needs the support of its friends. It should respond positively to the invitation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to be its "partner of choice" on trade, education and cultural exchange as well as on defence and intelligence matters. The Kurdistan Region has work to do on developing its democratic culture and its respect for human rights, and UK support should go hand in hand with proof of progress in these areas. The Committee commends the Region's defence force, the Peshmerga, for its defence of Kurdish territory against ISIL and its protection of vulnerable minorities. It supports the UK Government's decision to offer the Peshmerga equipment and training. Advice is also needed from the Kurdistan Region's experts on issues like counter-terrorism and on the situation on the ground in Iraq and Syria. More diplomats need to be working out of a proper office in Erbil instead of hotel rooms. And this is not easily achieved as the FCO has suffered from cuts to its meagre budget at a time when more expertise and high-level co-operation is desperately needed.

Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).

Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Great Britain
Languages : en
Pages : 888

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Government Response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's Second Report of Session 2014-2015 (HC 461) Gibraltar

Government Response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's Second Report of Session 2014-2015 (HC 461) Gibraltar PDF Author: Great Britain. Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781474110082
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 16

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Government Response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's Second Report Of... Session 2014-2015 (hc 461) Gibraltar

Government Response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's Second Report Of... Session 2014-2015 (hc 461) Gibraltar PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780101885515
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Government Response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's Second Report of Session 2014-2015 (HC 461) Gibralter

Government Response to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee's Second Report of Session 2014-2015 (HC 461) Gibralter PDF Author: Great Britain. Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781474110075
Category : Gibraltar
Languages : en
Pages : 12

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