David Miliband visits Tower Hamlets

On 28th May 2008 in an event held in partnership with the Mile End Community Project, the Young Foundation were delighted to co-host a visit from the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, to talk about foreign policy with local Muslim communities in Tower Hamlets. 

During his visit, the Foreign Secretary held a discussion with around 100 young British Muslims from the area, answering their questions on foreign policy issues posed to him directly from a lively audience.  He also held a separate meeting with senior Muslim community leaders and opinion formers from around Tower Hamlets.

Following his meeting with community leaders, the Foreign Secretary said:

'I’m delighted to be in Tower Hamlets where I have just had a half hour meeting with community leaders from all parts of the community. We covered three sets of issues. The hopes and aspirations and struggles of the Bangladeshi community in Britain and in Tower Hamlets specifically. Secondly, the concern that people have about Bangladesh because there are vital elections taking place now scheduled for December. And thirdly how British foreign policy reflects the global aspirations of the community here for a more just and stable world'

During the question and answer session with young British Muslims, the Foreign Secretary answered questions on a range of issues including Iran, the Middle East Peace Process, Iraq, Bangladesh, Terrorism, and ethical foreign policy.

On Iraq, the Foreign Secretary said, 'I recognise the divisions there were about the original decision to go to war, but I think that the focus now needs to be on the next 5 years..... Over the next five years we need to build economic reconstruction, political reconstruction, and real security improvement'.

Asked what the UK's position would be if the US were to invade Iran, the Foreign Secretary said:

'No one is talking about an invasion, and rightly so... We need to avoid a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and many regional countries worry about Iran's nuclear programme... the most recent report issued by the IAEA, an independent organisation mandated by the UN, said Iran's alleged weapons development studies "remain a matter of serious concern"....we have no qualms with the Iranian people and we do not want to deny Iran its rights to civil nuclear power, but Iran has got to suspend all enrichment related activities and answer the outstanding issues as key steps to rebuild confidence....we remain committed to the ongoing diplomatic track to solve that problem."

To visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website click here.