Venezuela

Mr. Clifton-Brown
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made on the freedom of the press in Venezuela; and whether she has received reports of electoral irregularities during the recent General Election.

Mr. Hoon
We have made no recent representations about the freedom of the press in Venezuela. However, we continue to monitor freedom of expression in several countries in the Latin American region, including Venezuela.

We supported the EU election observation mission that was in Venezuela for the recent presidential elections at the invitation of the Venezuelan government. The mission has just issued its preliminary report. The report identified no particular irregularities with the result, but did note serious problems with the campaign leading up to the elections themselves.