§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer by Baroness Amos on 17 January (HL Deb, cols. 1177–80) whether they consider their growing trade links with the regime in Khartoum to be consistent with the continuing embargo on development assistance to Sudan. [HL2748]
§ Baroness AmosThere is no trade embargo on Sudan. Companies make their own decisions based on commercial factors. Neither is there an embargo on development assistance. We do not believe Sudan can make sustained progress towards reducing poverty without peace and political stability. However, there is an EU arms embargo on Sudan which the UK helped to initiate in 1994. We implement this rigorously and expect it to remain for as long as the civil war continues.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their reponse to continuing attacks by the military forces of the Sudan on unarmed civilians, including those receiving food and medical aid officially provided by the World Food Programme. [HL3128]
§ Baroness AmosWe have expressed our very serious concern about the attacks. We have asked the Sudanese Government for an urgent explanation and to make clear what steps they will be taking to avoid such incidents in the future.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that the European Union was wise to resume development aid to the Sudan after the United States had unsuccessfully asked the Sudanese Government to cease bombing targets in southern Sudan; and whether they will ask for all 46WA such aid to be made conditional on a comprehensive ceasefire and the start of peace negotiations. [HL3129]
§ Baroness AmosWe are content with the European Union action because the proposed resumption is firmly linked to peaceful resolution of the civil war.