RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Early day motion 171, tabled 8 December 1999 by Paul Keetch (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 13 members.

That this House, while acknowledging that differences of view can sometimes arise between nations, believes that the people of Russia have shown great courage and diligence in their efforts to build a market-based democracy under the most difficult of circumstances; believes that the economic and political reforms undertaken in this decade in Russia remain the most effective counterweight to extremism and isolationism; recognises that intemperate accusations, such as of generalised criminality or corruption, may have had the unintended effect of silencing reformist voices and urges the British Government to seek the earliest possible opportunity to express the United Kingdom's heartfelt encouragement to the Russian people to exercise their hard-won voting rights in support of continued reform and engagement with other democratic nations.

Signatures by party: Labour 7, Liberal Democrat 5, Conservative 1.