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Mr. Eggar: Seven years after invading Afghanistan, more than 110,000 Soviet troops continue to occupy a once free and independent non-aligned country. The Soviet Union is now reconsidering its policy. We hope that it will withdraw its troops completely and promptly, in accordance with the principles laid down in successive United Nations resolutions.
Chile
27. Mr. Lofthouse asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department offers to Chilean exiles resident in the United Kingdom who consider returning to Chile.
Mr. Eggar: We have not received any such requests in recent years.
Soviet Union
28. Mr. Beith asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings have been held between Foreign Office Ministers and their Soviet counterparts.
Mr. Renton: I held discussions in Moscow on 14 and 15 January with the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr. Shevardnadze, and with First Deputy Foreign Minister Kovalev.
29. Mr. Richard Shepherd asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments in the granting of exit visas to dissidents in the Soviet Union.
Mr. Renton: There has been welcome evidence of movement in the reports that exit visas are to be granted to the imprisoned dissidents, Anatoly Koryagin and Sergei Khodorovich and that others are to be released, but many continue to suffer imprisonment and persecution for their beliefs and to be denied exit visas. We shall keep up the pressure upon the Soviet authorities for improvement across the board in their human rights performance.
31. Mr. Michael Brown asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's relations with the Soviet Union.
Mr. Renton: We are conducting an active dialogue with the Soviet authorities with the aim of securing progress in arms control and on regional questions, including Afghanistan; greater respect for human rights; an increase in trade; and more contacts between people at all levels. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister will pursue these questions when she visits Moscow.
33. Mr. James Lamond asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any Ministers from his Department will accompany the Prime Minister during her forthcoming visit to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and if he will make a statement.
DATE 20.09.81 Mr. Renton: Yes. My right hon. and learned Friend will
accompany my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.
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38. Mr. Lawrence asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances were received from the Soviet Foreign Minister during the recent discussions by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) on the subject of
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compliance by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics with its international obligations under the Helsinki agreements.
43. Mr. Sumberg asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances he has received from the Soviet Foreign Minister on the subject of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic's compliance with its commitments under the Helsinki agreements, in particular in relation to the freedom of Soviet Jews to leave the country.
Mr. Renton: During my recent visit to the Soviet Union I was told that measures were in hand which would lead to a substantial increase in the number of Soviet citizens allowed to leave their country. We shall watch carefully to see whether such an increase takes place.
48. Lord James Douglas-Hamilton asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments in human rights in the Soviet Union.
Mr. Renton: We welcome the recent releases of dissidents. Any movement in the direction of a more humane and tolerant society is welcome. But many more are still persecuted or imprisoned for their beliefs. We shall continue to press for further improvements.
Hong Kong
30. Mr. Alton asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to visit Hong Kong.
Mr. Renton: My right hon. and learned Friend has no present plans to visit Hong Kong.
Namibia
32. Mr. Maxton asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise in the European Economic Community Council of Ministers the extension of existing sanctions measures applying to Namibia.
Mrs. Chalker: We do not believe that applying sanctions to Namibia would advance the common objective of Namibian independence.
Persian Gulf
40. Mr. Marlow asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current United Kingdom interests in the Persian Gulf.
Mr. Renton: We enjoy long-standing relations with the states of the Persian Gulf. The region is of particular strategic and political importance and also represents a significant market for British goods and services.
Security and Disarmament Conferences
42. Mr. Chapman asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress at the various security confidence- building and disarmament conferences under way.
Arms Control Talks
44. Mr. Boyes asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a