British Indian Ocean Territory

(asked on 11th September 2017) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Governments of those EU member states who abstained in the vote on UN General Assembly Resolution 71/292 on their decision to abstain.


Answered by
Alan Duncan Portrait
Alan Duncan
This question was answered on 19th September 2017

The vote on the UN General Assembly Resolution 71/292 was a disappointing outcome. Sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory is clearly a matter for the UK and Mauritius to resolve ourselves. Taking this bilateral issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) through the General Assembly is an inappropriate use of the ICJ mechanism. This is reflected in the fact that over half of General Assembly members did not vote in favour of the resolution. We will continue to work with EU and other partners in order to present the UK's position effectively at the International Court of Justice.

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