NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE FCO RESPOND ON CHAGOS ISLANDERS PLIGHT The Celtic League has received a response from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to our query about the plight of the displaced Islanders of Diego Garcia. See relevant earlier link (UK URGED TO RIGHT WRONG SUFFERED BY DISPLACED ISLANDERS) on Celtic News here: (voir le site) The full text of the FCO response is set out below: Overseas Territories Directorate
K2.218 King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH www.fco.gov.uk 27 Feb 2013 Dear Mr Moffatt Thank you for your letter of 16 February 2013 to the Foreign Secretary. I have been asked to reply. I am not sure if you are aware of the European Court of Human Rights decision in December. If you have not already read this, I attach a link in case it is helpful. (voir le site) {sort:["kpdate%20Descending"]} Commenting on the decision, the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, said: We welcome the end of this legal process, which has taken many years. We have made clear our regret for the wrongs done to the Chagossian people over forty years ago. Nevertheless, it was right for the Government to defend itself against this action. Now that this litigation is concluded, the Government will take stock of our policy towards the resettlement of the British Indian Ocean Territory, as we have always said we would. There are fundamental difficulties with resettlement in BIOT, but we will be as positive as possible in our engagement with Chagossian groups and all interested parties. In the meantime we continue to engage with Chagossian groups. For example we organised visits back to BIOT in Oct 2011 and Oct 2012. We have a very successful environmental education outreach project and as a result young Chagossians have taken part in the last three scientific expeditions to BIOT. Yours sincerely John McManus BIOT Administrator and Head of BIOT Team The Celtic League is grateful to the FCO (BIOT Team) for its swift response to our query. J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information 4th March 2013 For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact: General Secretary, Celtic League: gensec@ The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query. ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE. The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues Internet site at: (voir le site)
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