British Foreign Policy and the Arab Spring

HC 80, Second Report of Session 2012-13 - Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

Author:

House of Commons - Foreign Affairs Committee

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

Price: £25.90

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Eighteen months since the Arab Spring began there has been extraordinary progress in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, yet many challenges still lie ahead; 'British Foreign Policy and the Arab Spring (HC 80)'examines the need to support and reform the economies of these Arab Spring states.

In 2011, the G8 Deauville Partnership identified $38 billion of funding available to support reform. The UK must use its leadership in the EU and G8 to ensure that we deliver on our promises. The Government needs to learn lessons from its experience in anticipating and handling the Arab Spring.

Questions arose about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's staffing levels, linguistic expertise and information gathering in the Middle East and North Africa region, although diplomats understood well the long-term problems in the region.

The report welcomes the Government's recent moves to establish contacts with Islamist parties in the region and calls for deeper engagement to demonstrate at an early stage the UK's support and assistance for democratically elected leaders who respect human rights and democratic reforms.

The BBC's Arabic Service further highlighted the importance of the BBC World Service in providing an independent news service and enhancing the UK's standing in the region. The Committee welcomes the Government's decision to reverse planned cuts to the Arabic Service last year, but expresses concerns that cuts made elsewhere in the World Service will prove detrimental to the national interest, and urges that there be a sustained investment in the World Service.

Extent	317 pages	ISBN	9780215046833
Size	A4	Price	£25.90
Format	Paperback	Published	19 Jul 2012
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges