Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan

Simon Hughes Excerpts

Monday 16th May 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hague]

I will take a couple more interventions, and then make some progress.

[Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (LD)]

The Foreign Secretary will, of course, appreciate that there is a desire for conflict resolution that will lead to a democratic opportunity for Libya. Will he accept from one who represents many people from north Africa, and many from the Arab and Muslim world, that the intervention that we made is extremely respected and appreciated by those communities here? They want us to continue to uphold the transformation in the Arab world to more democratic countries, because one of their reasons for being here is their inability to exercise their freedoms fully in the countries from which they have come.

[Mr Hague]

That is absolutely true. We responded to the call from the Arab League, and I discussed the situation in Cairo two weeks ago with its secretary-general, who remains supportive of what we are doing. As my right hon. Friend rightly says, that is representative of opinion not just across the region but among many people in this country.