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45742
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office remove filter
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the independence of the judiciary in Egypt. more like this
tabling member printed
The Lord Bishop of Coventry more like this
uin HL6391 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-04-23more like thismore than 2014-04-23
answer text <p>The new Egyptian constitution, adopted in January 2014, states that the judicial system is independent, and allows the judiciary its own budget, and to appoint the Prosecutor General and members of the Supreme Constitutional Court. We do however have some concerns over recent judicial decisions, including the sentencing to death of 529 people in Minya on 24 March. Reports that many of the defendants were tried in their absence and may not have been represented properly are deeply troubling. We have been urging the Egyptian authorities to ensure that the rights of defendants are fully respected in all cases.</p> more like this
answering member printed Baroness Warsi more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-04-23T12:00:00.00Zmore like thismore than 2014-04-23T12:00:00.00Z
answering member
3839
label Biography information for Baroness Warsi more like this
tabling member
4266
label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry more like this
45774
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office remove filter
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what current plans they have to enhance stability and democracy in Bosnia Herzegovina. more like this
tabling member printed
The Earl of Dundee more like this
uin HL6423 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-04-23more like thismore than 2014-04-23
answer text <p>The United Kingdom continues to be deeply committed to enhancing stability and democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The UK is a strong supporter of European Union Force (EUFOR) Operation Althea's maintenance of the safe and secure environment in BiH, and is proud of its contributions in theatre, and through a reserve company, 1 Scots. Our support for BiH's policing has led to our contributing to establishing a trilateral Police Cooperation Centre (PCC) in Trebinje, resulting in more efficient and effective actions being taken between law enforcement agencies in the region. UK Ministers and officials have made clear to BiH's leaders their responsibility for ensuring that their public rhetoric is not inflammatory or ethnically divisive. <br><br>Following the recent protests, we have made clear to BiH's leaders that they need to respond to the population's legitimate desire for change, most recently when the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met the BiH Presidency and Foreign Minister on 27 March. During his recent visit the Foreign Secretary met representatives of civil society and plenums and expressed our support to widen the political space in BiH so as to allow citizens to hold politicians to account. <br><br>Part of our work to widen the political space is the recent British BiH Fellowship Programme. A one-month residential programme in the UK designed to equip BiH's future leaders with the skills and experience to lead positive change in their country. <br><br>The Foreign Secretary also announced continuing UK assistance for BiH's path towards EU membership, in the form of new funding to foster democratic governance in Bosnia by strengthening the judiciary, civil society organisations, governance and supporting BiH's EU accession process. Specific examples include political and financial support focused on strengthening the State Court and State Prosecutor's Office, which will improve the operation of Rule of Law systems in BiH. <br><br>In addition, the UK supports the activities of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), whose work in BiH has focused on equipping local non-governmental organisations with the skills they need to provide effective evidence for parliamentary committees. WFD has done valuable work with BiH's Parliament to raise awareness of the value of such committees. This has influenced positively the formation of legislation, and opened up the process of law-making to public scrutiny, while promoting citizen participation in the democratic process.</p>
answering member printed Baroness Warsi more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-04-23T12:00:00.00Zmore like thismore than 2014-04-23T12:00:00.00Z
answering member
3839
label Biography information for Baroness Warsi more like this
tabling member
2735
label Biography information for The Earl of Dundee more like this
45775
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office remove filter
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Plenum movement within Bosnia Herzegovina in providing a constructive and peaceful catalyst towards constitutional reform. more like this
tabling member printed
The Earl of Dundee more like this
uin HL6424 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-04-10more like thismore than 2014-04-10
answer text <p>The protests and plenums are focussing primarily on socio-economic issues, demonstrating the frustration of the population with Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) leaders' failure to implement reforms on issues which matter most to ordinary Bosnians. The UK views these grievances as being rooted in a wider frustration with the functionality of the state, and as indicative of a broader malaise within BiH, which includes the Constitution. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), visited BiH on 27-28 March, and emphasised to BiH's leadership the importance of their engaging fully with the population's legitimate calls for change, which will include broader reforms. The UK has made clear, bilaterally and within the EU, that it stands ready to assist BiH's leaders in implementing a wide range of changes, should BiH's leaders demonstrate their commitment to engage fully with protesters, and summon the political will to make reforms.</p>
answering member printed Baroness Warsi more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-04-10T12:00:00.00Zmore like thismore than 2014-04-10T12:00:00.00Z
answering member
3839
label Biography information for Baroness Warsi more like this
tabling member
2735
label Biography information for The Earl of Dundee more like this
45777
registered interest false more like this
date remove filter
answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
answering dept id 16 more like this
answering dept short name Foreign and Commonwealth Office remove filter
answering dept sort name Foreign and Commonwealth Office more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for international intervention or guidance to assist the efforts of the Plenum movement to reduce corruption and financial irregularities in Bosnia Herzegovina. more like this
tabling member printed
The Earl of Dundee more like this
uin HL6426 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2014-04-10more like thismore than 2014-04-10
answer text <p>The recent protests and work of the plenums are evidence of Bosnia and Herzegovina's (BiH) political stalemate and economic malaise. We are making clear to BiH's leaders that the onus is on them to respond to the socio-economic grievances expressed by protesters and the plenums, most recently in the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague)'s meetings with the Presidency and the Foreign Minister on 27 and 28 March. We see an opportunity also for the international community, particularly the EU, to support reform ahead of October's elections. This includes assistance through new initiatives on economic reform and anti-corruption announced by EU Commissioner Fule, and the EU Special Representative's planned ‘Compact for Growth'. We support these efforts to develop and build popular support for concrete reforms in economic governance, transparency and anti-corruption.</p> more like this
answering member printed Baroness Warsi more like this
question first answered
less than 2014-04-10T12:00:00.00Zmore like thismore than 2014-04-10T12:00:00.00Z
answering member
3839
label Biography information for Baroness Warsi more like this
tabling member
2735
label Biography information for The Earl of Dundee more like this