Liberal Democrats : International Affairs News Feed

]> Liberal Democrats : International Affairs News Feed http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs RSS News provided by Liberal Democrats en-gb Fri, 4 Jul 2008 02:06:57 +0100 Copyright Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrats In house Zimbabwean cricket team must be banned from playing internationals - Foster http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14620 Commenting ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting tomorrow, which is due to discuss Zimbabwe’s membership, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said: "It is extremely important that all members of the ICC recognise the appalling situation in Zimbabwe. "The ICC must ban Zimbabwe’s cricket team from all international matches. It is unacceptable for Zimbabwe to be represented on the world stage while Mugabe’s tyranny continues. "The cricket world should take a stand in order to register a protest against the abuses occurring there." Thu, 3 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Government attempts to block Chagos return sickening - Davey http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14593 Commenting on today’s challenge by the Government to Chagos Islanders’ right to return home, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "The Government must cease this endless waste of taxpayers’ money and do what is right by the Chagossians. This is what Robin Cook promised when he was Foreign Secretary. "The spectacle of David Miliband’s lawyers invoking 19th century colonial laws to defend the indefensible is frankly sickening. "This is not a legal matter, it is a matter of principle. The Chaggosians must be allowed to go home. "Together with the scandal of secret US renditions from Diego Garcia, the abuse of these islands is a shameful stain on Britain’s global reputation."     Tue, 1 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Mugabe swearing in a grotesque charade - Clegg http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14584 Responding to the ceremony swearing in Robert Mugabe as president of Zimbabwe, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said: “After this grotesque electoral charade, the African community must not lose a second in refusing to recognise Robert Mugabe, and making clear to him that they will take whatever steps necessary to evict him from power. “President Mbeki’s reluctance to rein in Robert Mugabe is both unacceptable and inexplicable. “The British Government and international community must move fast to agree upon the widest possible range on international sanctions and signal a willingness to help with the burgeoning refugee crisis. “Gordon Brown should announce immediately that he will waive the normal asylum procedures and allow Zimbabweans fleeing Mugabe’s regime to live and work here until they can return home.” Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Removal of Mugabe knighthood right step at last - Clegg http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14574 Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg, who has urged the Prime Minister in the House of Commons to remove Robert Mugabe’s knighthood, has welcomed the news that the Queen is to rescind the honour. Nick Clegg said: "This is an important step, but symbolism alone is not enough to end the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe. What is needed now is urgent international cooperation on sanctions which will hit the Mugabe regime where it hurts. "Gordon Brown is right to realise at last the importance of making clear our disgust at the behaviour of Robert Mugabe. "No person who behaves with such cruelty towards his own people should be able to do so with impunity." Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Hercules report shows Iraq presence a drain on vital equipment - Harvey http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14570 Commenting on today’s NAO report on Britain’s Hercules aircraft, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said: "This report is further evidence that our continued presence in Iraq is draining the life from equipment that is desperately needed in Afghanistan. "Overstretch and the impact of wars on two fronts has taken a heavy toll on the Hercules fleet. "As Sir Jock Stirrup said this week, the Armed Forces are simply not set up for fighting two enduring operations simultaneously. "The Hercules are operating in demanding and hostile environments. The older aircraft are operating beyond their original retirement date and are increasingly expensive to keep airworthy. "With the delays to the replacement A400m aircraft, Britain will face a critical pinch-point in the availability of tactical airlift over the next few years. "It is essential that the MoD manages this situation as effectively as possible, and that the Government provide the necessary resources to cover the gap." Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Anglo American providing lifeline to brutal Mugabe regime - Davey http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14560 Commenting on Anglo-American's statement on its operations in Zimbabwe, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "This shows just how weak the sanctions regime on Zimbabwe is in practice. "Creating jobs is one thing, but supporting the lifeline of foreign exchange to one of the most corrupt and brutal regimes in history is another. "This investment will come as a huge boost to Robert Mugabe's regime, and will therefore represent a devastating blow to the population of Zimbabwe as a whole." Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 New force and exit checks key to control of borders - Huhne http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14543 Commenting on ACPO’s proposals for a new border police force, revealed today by the Government, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "It is good news that ministers will consider the creation of a national border force. "Along with the reintroduction of exit checks, this is a key part of re-establishing control of our borders." Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Interventionist liberal foreign policy should not be undermined by Iraq - Clegg http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14541 The disastrous failure of Iraq should not be allowed to undermine public support for an engaged, and where justified, interventionist liberal foreign policy, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg will say today. In his first keynote foreign affairs speech, delivered this afternoon to Chatham House, Nick Clegg will set out his vision for British foreign policy. He will: <DIR> · Argue that the principle of the Responsibility to Protect must be widened to include events such as the response to the typhoon in Burma · Call for a new Strategic Defence Review to better align Britain’s resources and capabilities with the kinds of conflict Britain is likely to face in coming decades · Argue that the battle for public opinion over Afghanistan is in danger of being lost and that the Government has failed to distinguish between British involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan</DIR> Calling for a tough international response to Robert Mugabe’s campaign of terror in Zimbabwe. Nick Clegg will say: "Cutting off foreign remittances is a serious step with serious consequences. I know that it would hurt the ordinary Zimbabweans who rely on remittances from friends and family abroad. "But the fact remains that access to foreign currency is the only thing that enables the regime to function and therefore the only thing that sustains Mugabe in power. "It is now too late for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. But it is not too late for Britain to act within the EU, the UN and, crucially, with countries in the Southern African region to act decisively against Mugabe. "President Mbeki must move beyond his reluctance to act and threaten to restrict electricity supplies into Zimbabwe." Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Brown is no friend of freedom - Huhne http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14533 Commenting on today’s speech on security and liberty by Gordon Brown, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said: "Gordon Brown is using doublespeak to paint himself as a friend of freedom when his Government has done more than any other in recent times to undermine civil liberties. "42 day detention without charge, attacks on jury trials, the removal of rights to protest and the introduction of ID cards are all attacks on the freedoms of the British people. "Hard-won freedoms are not being destroyed by terrorists but eroded by a Government intent on looking tough. "We are becoming what we are fighting, which is the biggest prize any free society can give to its enemies." Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Brown's energy trip act of self-delusion- Cable http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14531 Commenting on Gordon Brown holding energy talks in Saudi Arabia today, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable said: "This trip is either empty gesture politics or an act of self delusion. "The Prime Minister clearly wants to be seen to take action on rising energy bills but he does not appear to appreciate that, with oil production already up to capacity, there is very little OPEC countries can do. "Gordon Brown must realise that high oil prices are a long-term problem which won’t be solved by lecturing the Saudis. "He would be better off staying at home to work on radical moves that would allow Britain to decrease our dependency on fossil fuels. "Arguing for any large scale expansion of nuclear power, which would take decades to build, does not solve any immediate problem. It also completely ignores the fact that acquisition of nuclear technology in countries like Iran could be highly dangerous." Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 MDC decision must be catalyst for aggressive international action - Clegg http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14528 Responding to reports that Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has decided to pull out of next week’s presidential run-off, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said: "It is a huge disappointment that Robert Mugabe with violence, terror and murder has succeeded in intimidating the MDC out of an election. "Today’s announcement must finally be the catalyst for aggressive action against Zimbabwe, rather than the moment the world decided to forget the plight of this suffering nation. "Britain must now work with the EU and the UN to draw up immediate measures to force President Mugabe out of power. We must liaise closely with Mozambique and South Africa to restrict electricity supplies into Zimbabwe, to impose a possible petrol embargo and a temporary halt of foreign currency remittances. "While these measures will hit ordinary Zimbabweans too, they might, if implemented swiftly, succeed where all else has failed to force Mugabe’s regime out of power." Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Combined action needed to end Mugabe regime - Clegg http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14525 Commenting on the worsening situation in Zimbabwe, and reports that the MDC is to decide on Monday whether to contest the election, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: "The absolute priority must be to bring the brutal Mugabe regime to an end. "We must now build a political consensus within the EU and with Zimbabwe’s neighbours, particularly South Africa, to take real and effective action against Mugabe. "In Britain, we need to stop the foreign currency remittances to Zimbabwe which help fund and arm Mugabe’s thugs. Meanwhile, the Government should urge the Presidents of South Africa and Mozambique to threaten to restrict and if necessary cut off the electricity supply to Zimbabwe, to show Mugabe he cannot continue brutalising his people with impunity. "We are fully aware that these measures will have consequences for ordinary Zimbabweans, but they are nothing by comparison to the months or years of enduring agony that can be expected if Mugabe is allowed to steal this election. "The International Criminal Court should start gathering the evidence necessary to bring a case against Robert Mugabe and his regime. Crimes such as his cannot go unpunished." Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Time to end Mugabe's grotesque electoral farce - Clegg http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14503 Commenting on the Pan-African Parliament observers’ reports of ‘horrendous’ political violence in Zimbabwe, and the illegal jailing of the Secretary General of the MDC, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said: "It is time to end Mugabe’s grotesque electoral farce. "We must stand by those who, despite brutality and intimidation, wish to go out and register their disgust at Mugabe’s regime and their desire for a better future. "However, the British Government should now be explicitly clear that free and fair elections appear simply impossible under these conditions. "Gordon Brown must act now to bring real pressure to bear on the Zimbabwean regime. This means cutting off the supply of foreign currency which funds and arms Mugabe’s thugs. "We cannot stand back and allow the Mugabe regime to continue with this brutal parody of democracy." Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Continued Iraq presence endangering Afghan mission - Harvey http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14486 Commenting on the Government’s announcement of the deployment of further troops to Afghanistan, expected to bring the total to over 8000, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said: "Further support for the vital work our troops are doing in Afghanistan is welcome. "However, the Government is still failing to address the pressing issue of overstretch in our armed forces. "It is becoming increasingly clear that our troops are being kept in Iraq largely for the political convenience of President Bush. "It is time the Government set a timetable for withdrawal of our forces from Iraq. By continuing to try to fight on two fronts, we are endangering our chance to build lasting security in Afghanistan." Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 Serious question mark over future of Lisbon Treaty - Davey http://www.libdems.org.uk/internationalaffairs/story.html?id=14485 Commenting on the result of the Irish referendum, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, Edward Davey said: "The Irish people have spoken and it is clear that the treaty cannot be ratified without their support. "Once scrutiny of the treaty is completed in Westminster next week its ratification should be suspended. "The Liberal Democrats believe this treaty would have been good for Europe, but now the EU must redouble its efforts to improve its accountability and efficiency under the existing treaty provisions." Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100