This is Gloucestershire --
ALTHOUGH I spent my summer holidays in Wales and Cumbria – camping in fairly wet conditions ,but experiencing some fabulous locations and meeting many interesting people – I was often thinking of foreign policy issues, not least those of immediate concern to the United Kingdom.
In Egypt we see mounting political chaos with completely unacceptable breaches of human rights happening each and every day.
There is, effectively, military law with little or no regard to the rule of law.
This is an extremely dangerous situation in a pivotally important Arab state so close to Europe and a part of the Middle East.
None of this will be helpful to the latest negotiations underway between Israel and the Palestinians.
This process is already hampered by the decision of the Israeli government to continue to develop settlements in the West Bank and the potential influence of the Muslin Brotherhood, now itself under sustained attack by the Egyptian government.
The situation in Syria remains very depressing.
With a ruthless regime determined to retain power at any price, but also benefitting from Russia's economic and political support, the prospects for some kind of solution remain dim with or without intervention of any kind from afar.
Elsewhere, there is relative harmony but risks through contagion should not be underestimated.
Response
In these circumstances, member states of the European Union and the United States must start thinking strategically in formulating a response.
President Obama's administration, for example, should appraise its international development policy, especially in relation to Egypt, notwithstanding previous political commitments. This theme also applies to Israel.
In Europe, we need to see a concerted approach to developing a Mediterranean strategy, recognising the interests of us all in what is, essentially, an area of huge importance in terms of trade and security.
I shall be raising these and related points during the inevitable debates in the House of Commons once Parliament meets again in September.
■ I can be contacted through my website www.neilcarmichael.co.uk or you can follow me on twitter @neil_mp. My new office is 7 Bridge Street, Nailsworth, and you can still contact me at the House of Commons. Reported by This is 14 hours ago.
ALTHOUGH I spent my summer holidays in Wales and Cumbria – camping in fairly wet conditions ,but experiencing some fabulous locations and meeting many interesting people – I was often thinking of foreign policy issues, not least those of immediate concern to the United Kingdom.
In Egypt we see mounting political chaos with completely unacceptable breaches of human rights happening each and every day.
There is, effectively, military law with little or no regard to the rule of law.
This is an extremely dangerous situation in a pivotally important Arab state so close to Europe and a part of the Middle East.
None of this will be helpful to the latest negotiations underway between Israel and the Palestinians.
This process is already hampered by the decision of the Israeli government to continue to develop settlements in the West Bank and the potential influence of the Muslin Brotherhood, now itself under sustained attack by the Egyptian government.
The situation in Syria remains very depressing.
With a ruthless regime determined to retain power at any price, but also benefitting from Russia's economic and political support, the prospects for some kind of solution remain dim with or without intervention of any kind from afar.
Elsewhere, there is relative harmony but risks through contagion should not be underestimated.
Response
In these circumstances, member states of the European Union and the United States must start thinking strategically in formulating a response.
President Obama's administration, for example, should appraise its international development policy, especially in relation to Egypt, notwithstanding previous political commitments. This theme also applies to Israel.
In Europe, we need to see a concerted approach to developing a Mediterranean strategy, recognising the interests of us all in what is, essentially, an area of huge importance in terms of trade and security.
I shall be raising these and related points during the inevitable debates in the House of Commons once Parliament meets again in September.
■ I can be contacted through my website www.neilcarmichael.co.uk or you can follow me on twitter @neil_mp. My new office is 7 Bridge Street, Nailsworth, and you can still contact me at the House of Commons. Reported by This is 14 hours ago.