FCO SPOKESPERSON STATEMENT ON MALAWI

Press Release: TUESDAY 19 APRIL 2011

FCO SPOKESPERSON STATEMENT ON MALAWI





“The Acting Permanent Under Secretary, Sir Geoffrey Adams, summoned the Charge d’Affaires of Malawi to the Foreign Office this morning. He conveyed to her the Foreign Secretary’s strong concern at suggestions that the Government of Malawi is considering declaring the British High Commissioner, Mr Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, “persona non grata”.



“Sir Geoffrey made clear to the Charge d’Affaires that such an action would be unacceptable. Mr Cochrane-Dyet is an able and effective High Commissioner, who retains the full confidence of the British Government.



“Sir Geoffrey added that if the Government of Malawi pursued such action there were likely to be consequences affecting the full range of issues in the bilateral relationship. He urged the Malawian authorities, through the Charge d’Affaires, not to proceed down such a road.”



Kind regards,

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