APPENDICES TO THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE
APPENDIX 1
Memorandum submitted by International
Alert
INTRODUCTION
1. International Alert, a non-governmental
organization committed to the just and peaceful transformation
of violent conflicts, welcomes the Foreign Affairs Committee's
invitation to submit comments on the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office Annual Report for 2001. International Alert acknowledges
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's work outlined in the report
and achievements throughout the year that have contributed to
international peace and security.
GREEN PAPER
ON MERCENARIES
2. International Alert would, however, like
to express concern that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has
failed to publish its long-awaited Green Paper on Mercenaries.
The Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, made a commitment in April
1999 (in response to the "arms to Africa" affair in
which Sandline International, a British private military company,
was involved in shipping arms to Sierra Leone in contravention
of the UN arms embargo) that the Green Paper would be published
by November 2000. However, the Green Paper is still to be published
and there is no reference to progress on it in the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office's report for 2001.
3. The Foreign Affairs Committee has itself
expressed concern over the delay in the Green Paper in their Progress
Report (Follow-up to the Second Report, session 1998-99, on Sierra
Leone) stating: "We look forward to sight of the Government's
proposed Green Paper on Mercenaries but regret that the scheduled
publication date of November 2000 has been missed."
4. The UN has repeatedly condemned mercenary
activities. The Special Rapporteur on the use of mercenaries,
Sr. Enrique Bernales Ballesteros, has raised concern about the
impact of mercenary and private military company activities on
human rights, peace and stability in his report to the UN Commission
on Human Rights and the General Assembly. He has, furthermore,
urged Member States to adopt national legislation regulating their
activities. An expert meeting organized by the Office of the UN
High Commissioner on Human Rights in January 2001 reach similar
conclusions. The failure of the UK Government to publish the Green
Paper on Mercenaries was criticized by the Special Rapporteur
(Financial Times, 18th April 2001) As "a serious and
deplorable backward step by the British government." He also
expressed concern that this might send a very negative signal
to other European countries, who have been waiting for the British
to introduce regulations before making any similar move themselves.
5. Mercenary and private military companies
continue to be a source of instability in a number of ongoing
conflicts. The government (Hansard written answers, 156152)
has said that it has had contacts with 15-20 companies in the
UK.
6. The reason given by the Government (Hansard
written answers, 145583) for the delay is that this is
a new and complex issue that requires careful consultation, and
there are difficulties in defining mercenary activities. The Green
Paper is, however, only a consultation document. It has been suggested
(Financial Times, 18th April 2001) that the Government
is reluctant to raise this vulnerable question in view of the
controversy it may reignite with the upcoming general election.
7. International Alert believes it is an
imperative that the Green Paper on Mercenaries be published as
soon as possible, and that a statement be made as to when this
will be. This will allow for urgent public debate about the pressing
issue and should lead to the introduction of comprehensive legislation.
April 2001
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