§ 8. Ms ChurchTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his UN partners regarding the current situation in Burundi. [27199]
§ Mr. HanleyWe are in close contact with our partners in the Security Council and in the European Union and with relevant United Nations organisations about the position in Burundi—indeed, the Secretary-General's report will be discussed tomorrow. On 2 May, my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary met former President Nyerere, who is leading international efforts to promote political dialogue in Burundi.
§ Ms ChurchI thank the Minister for his answer. Will he assure the House that he is aware that the situation in Burundi is worsening daily, that hundreds of people are being killed every month in genocidal conflict and that the Secretary-General is warning the UN Security Council that it could degenerate into genocidal war? What specific steps are the British Government urging should be taken not only to protect human life in Burundi, but to ensure that humanitarian aid gets through to people who need it?
§ Mr. HanleyI am grateful to the hon. Lady for her question and for her concern. She is right; the situation in Burundi is deteriorating. Indeed, since early April, the security situation in Burundi has deteriorated significantly and a substantial number of small-scale massacres and political assassinations, perpetrated by extremist Hutu guerrillas, Tutsi militias and the heavy-handed Burundi armed forces, have taken place.
Most humanitarian agencies have withdrawn from the country—some having been attacked following a hostile media campaign—but we are trying hard to ensure that 226 humanitarian aid is available. Since January 1996, we have given £1.3 million bilaterally, and our share of multilateral aid through the European Union has been £750,000. As I have said, we are looking forward to the discussion in the Security Council on the Secretary-General's report on Burundi.
§ Mr. Tony LloydMay I draw the House's attention to the parallels between the present position in Burundi and that in Rwanda before the genocide there? In particular, may I draw the Minister's attention to the international report on that genocide, which made it clear that the lack of decisive political action by the UN, the United States of America, Britain, France and other Security Council members—not the lack of humanitarian aid, welcome though that was—led to the problems in Rwanda? May we have an absolute guarantee that, welcome though Britain's efforts are in ensuring that aid flows in, political action will be taken to ensure that we do not see in Burundi genocide such as that other part of Africa recently witnessed?
§ Mr. HanleyThe hon. Gentleman is right; we do not want Burundi to follow the path of Rwanda, but we have hope in that, as I have mentioned, former President Nyerere visited London recently, had meetings with my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development and attended a working lunch hosted by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary. The main focus of discussion was the former President's efforts to promote political dialogue among Burundi's political parties. We support those discussions and are putting a considerable amount of money towards the cost of arranging the talks. Initial meetings have taken place, and I hope that former President Nyerere's initiative will bear fruit. As I said in answer to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Ms Church), we are looking forward to tomorrow's discussion on the subject in the Security Council.