§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will raise with the United Nations Security Council the refusal of the Sudanese Government to agree land and air corridors for relief supplies by the international operation Lifeline Sudan, and that government's current dry-season offensive in southern Sudan.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)We have not ruled out the option of recourse to the UN Security Council. But we would have to be certain that the circumstances were right. Failed action at the Security Council would set back the cause of peace in Sudan.
We deplore the latest outbreak of fighting in the South, and will continue to urge the Government of
43WASudan to co-operate with international relief efforts, and to respond positively to the East African leaders' peace initiative.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to (a) the Washington Declaration of 23rd October 1993 and (b) the common agenda drawn up on 6th January 1994 in Nairobi for the Inter Governmental administration for Drought and Development peace-talks concerning southern Sudan.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyWe welcome the work of the East African leaders and others in trying to reconcile the factions of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA). We hope that the faction leaders will continue to respond positively to these efforts. We urge the Government of Sudan to do likewise, so that the Sudanese themselves can find a solution to their constitutional problems by peaceful means.