31
Debate on the Address (Second Day)
[22 NOVEMBER 1993]
Britain has consistently supported a peaceful transition to democratic civilian government which would be acceptable to the Nigerian people as a whole.
Perhaps I may say that for more than 10 years we have shown considerable patience and understanding towards Nigeria. During that time both the economy and the lot of ordinary Nigerians have sharply deteriorated. That is why we urge General Abacho, who led the military take-back, and his colleagues to move as rapidly as possible to accountable democratic civilian government.
Your Lordships will recall that we took no further steps as regards aid and have done only minimum work with the Nigerians since the former General Babangida annulled the 12th June elections last summer. However, we now see the need to take other steps potentially. That is why we are considering with all our international partners what further steps may be taken in response to the backward step taken last week by General Abacho and his colleagues.
The news from Russia is better, despite the curious logic of some apologists in this country for Rutskoi and Khasbulatov. It is an area which brings encouragement. The British Government have consistently supported Yeltsin as a reformer. It is unreal to believe that a leader with less than his nerve and steel could bring about real change for the better in Russia. There is no doubt we and the rest of the international community are right to support him in his hour of need. But we wait to see what happens to a democratic Russia.
Following President Yeltsin's victory at the White House-I believe that it was a victory for the cause of economic and democratic reform in Russia-he is engaged in the largest democratic consultation that has occurred in Russian history. That is a major undertaking. It is one which undoubtedly he will find exceedingly difficult, as will the Russian people. We must face the fact that elections for the first time to a new bicameral parliament and to some regional assemblies and a referendum on a new constitution would be no easy task for a nation well versed in democratic elections. Therefore, one can easily see how difficult that will be among people who have never participated in their democratic future.
The new draft constitution is by no means a blueprint for despotism. There is a powerful president in Russia. That is a feature of the constitutions of a number of Britain's closest allies. I believe that the process of consultation and its results, which President Yeltsin is driving forward, can produce a post-totalitarian federative, democratic Russia. But the Russians will need help.
Already eight British parliamentarians from another place and 12 other experts have visited Russia and will monitor the December elections. There is a £500,000 British Programme for Democracy to help to support the new institutions to emerge after the elections, especially the parliament. We must realise that Russia has no real experience of democracy as we know it and as many of its people expect to have in Russia as a result of broadcasts from the BBC and other media. We must nurture that democracy. British experts have covered the preparations for the elections and they have recently
25 LE71/7 Job 1-11
32
Debate on the Address (Second Day)
returned from an advisory visit. They report that there is much indeed to be done. All that is in addition to the Know-How Fund, which, as my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary described in another place last Friday, is intended to help Russia to get on with the job of modernising and of standing on her own economic feet. But we are well aware that the process, whether economic or political, will take a long time and will require a great deal of patience on the part of the member nations of the international financial institutions.
During the past few years your Lordships have expressed much interest in Hong Kong. There is no doubt that the focus of discussion between the British and Chinese Governments is about the kind of democracy that should exist there in future. Its elections are of a different kind. We are all well aware that the 1984 Joint Declaration by Britain and China sets out the detail of rights and freedoms which make up Hong Kong's way of life. It provides for that way of life to carry on for 50 years after 1997. I hope it is not necessary to say-but for the record I shall do so that we want to see the Joint Declaration which was agreed by Britain and China implemented in full. Part of the declaration states that by 1997 Hong Kong's legislature will be elected. China's Basic Law for Hong Kong, which will come into force in 1997, sets out the detail of the gradual development of democracy which has been under way for a decade.
So Britain's talks with China are not about whether to have democratic arrangements-we have already agreed that but whether the last round of elections to be held under British sovereignty (in 1994 and 1995) will be fair, open and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong. The United Kingdom's approach to talks is persistent but flexible. During the past three months the Foreign Secretary has twice talked to his Chinese colleagues. The Government will redouble their efforts to work for agreement—but not at any price. We must remember the Zen proverb: “What is the sound of one hand clapping?". We need two hands to make a deal.
Your Lordships will understand the importance of arrangements which help to preserve the rule of law and which go with the grain of the people of Hong Kong's wishes. With the people of Hong Kong on side, stability and prosperity will be assured. The Governor will make announcements in a few weeks but at the present time it is absolutely crucial that the Hong Kong people decide their future.
China itself is going through a period of tremendous economic expansion and reform. It is incredible that in economic terms it grew 12.8 per cent. in 1992. This year growth will probably be 13 per cent. I hope that we shall be able to participate in that because British firms have much to offer China. Although there are in the Chinese economy problems of overheating and inflation its government are having some success in addressing them. Whatever the short-term difficulties, China is set to be a major world market, not least for British business.
I turn to perhaps the most difficult of all the territories with which we are dealing; that of the former Yugoslavia. Today the Foreign Secretary is in
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.