Contributions
1,991 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftIt not only should be but is, as set out in the integrated review. We stand up for our values—the values of open trade and open societies, including human rights and democracy—and…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI share the right hon. Gentleman’s disgust and outrage. The Lukashenko regime is slipping further and further into pariah status. We will take every measure we can, whether at a…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI totally agree with my hon. Friend. We raised precisely this kind of systematic attack at the G7 Foreign Ministers meeting, and we will continue to do so.24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftAsylum has been raised already. The criteria in the asylum regime are reflective of international law and are fit for purpose. The evidence of this regime’s despicable actions…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI certainly agree that ICAO must discharge its duties. This is a dramatic but seminal moment for it to stand up for the values that we are all trying to safeguard in relation to…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftThe hon. Lady raises a great point, which is that in order to exert positive influence we have to co-ordinate with our allies, so we need to broaden the group of like-minded…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI thank my right hon. Friend, the Chair of the Defence Committee. I agree that we need to use every lever. I am not quite sure which specific one he thinks would be the decisive…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI thank the hon. Gentleman for his support. There will always be different views across the European family and I would be a bit reluctant about advertising that to Minsk or…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftMy right hon. Friend raises a very important point. First, we will use all the sanctions—all the levers—that we have at our disposal. We are conscious, as we have discussed and as…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI thank the right hon. Gentleman, and I totally agree with him. We must do everything we can to signal that, as outrageous it is what they have already done, it would be a further…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftYes, we will look at the panoply of sanctions on individuals. On sectoral sanctions, we will co-ordinate with our partners as to whether those are appropriate. We will take action…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftThe hon. Gentleman is right about the action we take and the deterrent effect it has. He mentioned asset freezes; asset freezes in relation to 99 individuals and entities are…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI thank my hon. Friend for his question and for his support for the actions that we have taken today. He is absolutely right about the threat posed to all of us as users of civil…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI thank the hon. Lady for her support for the measures that we have taken today. It is important that, so far as possible, subject to all the scrutiny, accountability and…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI think we all want to stand up for the same issue. I have spoken to a range of the key figures and that is not the feedback we have had, at least in terms of the UK response. We…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftWe are already doing it, but the hon. Lady is right to say that the G7, amid the other forums, is where something like this should be considered, not least because of the attack…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI know, because of my hon. Friend’s background, how particularly personal it is for him when he sees journalists arrested, detained or otherwise mistreated around the world. I…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI thank the hon. Gentleman for his support for the statement and the measures. He referred to breaches of the Chicago convention, and I agree that they are striking and shocking.…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI commend my right hon. Friend for raising the issue so tenaciously, as she always does. I have had a positive discussion with opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, whom I…24 May 2021HANSARDBelarus: Interception of AircraftI totally agree with the hon. Gentleman’s instincts. I am not sure that it is correct that there are businesses taking advantage, but I reassure him that amid the panoply of…24 May 2021