§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have about the recruitment by force of young boys into the Angolan army, the purchase by Angola of 95 million dollars worth of arms from North Korea and the employment by Angola of South African mercenaries.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)Boys of 14 and 15 are known to have joined the Angolan army voluntarily. Some may also have been conscripted, but there is no evidence that the government approves of this practice. The Angolan army are believed to have purchased substantial quantities of arms from North Korea. The army is known to employ South African mercenaries in an advisory capacity and there are reports that such mercenaries are sometimes employed in a combat role.
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What they see as the main difference between the Government of Angola and UNITA on the ingredients of a peace plan, and what steps they will take to help the two sides to reach agreement.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyAt the Lusaka talks, the Government of Angola and UNITA have reached agreement on military issues, the formation and composition of the police and the general principles of the electoral process. They are still discussiong national reconciliation, including the issue of UNITA participation in government, upon which they have yet to agree. We will continue to support UN efforts to broker a negotiated settlement.