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22 Jun 2006 : Column 2151W—continued
Somalia
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the progress of the Union of Islamic Courts in Somalia; and if she will make a statement on UK policy towards Somalia. [77943]
Mr. McCartney:
The victory of the Islamic Courts Union over the warlords in Mogadishu and other towns in Central Somalia is an important development. The UK continues to support the Transitional Federal Institutions in pursuing dialogue, reconciliation and stable governance in Somalia in accordance with the
Transitional Federal Charter. We will continue to provide assistance to Somalia within this framework. We urge all states in the region to respect the UN arms embargo on Somalia and refrain from supplying armaments, which exacerbate conflict there. We encourage the Transitional Federal government to engage with the Islamic Courts Union and welcome the fact that both sides have made conciliatory statements.
Sudan
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her policy is on the United Nations’ aim to deploy UN troops in the Sudan. [77905]
Mr. McCartney: I fully support the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. The UK has been taking a lead in seeking international support for one. A UN force for Darfur would be in addition to the UN force already deployed in southern Sudan.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with Dr. Ibrahim Mudawi of the Sudan Social Development Organisation on his appraisal of the situation in Darfur. [78137]
Mr. McCartney: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials meet regularly with Dr. Mudawi in Sudan. Like us, he remains concerned about the ongoing security problems in Darfur. We also share his concern about the need for a greater understanding of the Darfur Peace Agreement in order to develop more support among Darfuris themselves. He is also keen to press on with arrangements for a Darfur-Darfur Dialogue and Consultation to act as a rallying point for the different interest groups in the region.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements she is negotiating with the (a) African Union and (b) United Nations to try to improve the security situation in Darfur. [78138]
Mr. McCartney: We welcome the African Union’s (AU) decision on 15 May to proceed with the transition of the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the UN. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed this with the chairperson of the AU when they met in London last month. We continue to support AMIS through funding and technical assistance to enhance its effectiveness.
We also welcome the Government of Sudan’s acceptance of the UN planning mission and are pressing for them to agree to the deployment of a UN force in Darfur. Joint planning for transition between the AU and the UN is already under way. We are providing military and police planning experts to the UN and pressing for the handover to take place as quickly as possible.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of whether the Government of National Unity in Sudan will accept the introduction of UN troops in Darfur. [78139]
Mr. McCartney: After extensive international lobbying, the Government of Sudan have agreed to allow a UN Technical Assistance Mission to visit Sudan to begin planning for the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. However, they have not yet endorsed the deployment of a UN force for Darfur. We and other international partners will continue to lobby them to do so.
Trinidad and Tobago
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make representations to the relevant Trinidad and Tobago authorities on avoiding unnecessary delays to the appearance of witnesses travelling from the UK to appear in court cases in Trinidad and Tobago; and if she will make a statement. [78436]
Mr. Hoon: Foreign and Commonwealth officials in London and our High Commission in Port of Spain have made representations to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago about delays encountered by British nationals appearing in court cases in Trinidad and Tobago. To address this problem, the Tobagonian authorities are introducing a 24 hour court for crimes against tourists. Tele-conferencing is also to be introduced so that foreign victims of crime can give evidence from their home countries. We welcome the announcement of these positive measures, and will monitor their practical implementation carefully.
Uganda
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of recent discussions between representatives of the South Sudanese Government and representatives of the Lord’s Resistance Army including Joseph Koug. [78931]
Mr. McCartney: The UK has long been committed to seeking a peaceful solution to the long running conflict in northern Uganda, which continues to undermine security in neighbouring southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Any discussions or mediation efforts need to be aimed at encouraging those Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) members not facing International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants to stop fighting and seek amnesty and reintegration into their communities.
We continue to call on Sudan to meet its international obligations and ensure the five senior LRA commanders indicted by the ICC are brought to face justice in the Hague. Our Ambassador in Khartoum pressed Salva Kiir, President of the Government of Southern Sudan, on the Government’s ICC obligations on 10 May. The UK-led UN Security Council delegation, which visited Juba on 8 June as part of a wider trip to Sudan, also raised the issue with President Kiir.
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