Cambodia: Peace Efforts (Hansard, 18 July 1990)

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, the British Government are closely involved in efforts to bring about a comprehensive political settlement in Cambodia, notably through meetings of the five permanent members of the Security Council. The Five held their latest meeting in Paris on 16th and 17th July, and made further progress in elaborating the elements of a settlement. They have agreed to accelerate their work and to meet again in New York on 27th and 28th August.

§ Baroness Ewart-Biggs
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that Answer. However, does he agree that there is a real danger that the Khmer Rouge will seize power unless urgent action is taken? Therefore, can he be a little more specific about what progress has been made in the UN Security Council's current session? Further, will he confirm—or will he deny—the recent news which was released only this morning that the United States will no longer recognise the Khmer Rouge-dominated coalition's right to occupy Cambodia's seat at the UN? If this report is correct, will Her Majesty's Government follow suit?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I agree that recent reports of Khmer Rouge advances have been worrying. As regards the progress made at the latest meeting of the Permanent Five members—not the UN Security Council—in Paris yesterday and the day before, the Five came within close reach of a detailed 859 agreement, first, on peace-keeping and military arrangements to guarantee the cease-fire, withdrawal of foreign forces, cessation of arms supplies and regrouping of Cambodian forces; and, secondly, on the composition, the powers and the functions of the Supreme National Council. The next step will be to deal with the three other remaining issues: namely, guarantees of free and fair elections under the United Nations auspices; guarantees of fundamental human rights; and guarantees for independent sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability, neutrality and national unity of Cambodia. The Five have committed themselves to early agreement on those three outstanding matters and the August meeting will tackle them.
As regards the United States position, the US Government as recently as 9th July said that they regularly review their Cambodia policy in the light of changing circumstances. In regard to the UN seat, we and our European Community partners have already said that we shall have to review the situation in the autumn. We very much hope that by then events will enable the Supreme National Council to take up that seat.

§ Lord Elton
My Lords, does my noble friend the Minister realise that Her Majesty's Government's efforts to ensure that the Khmer Rouge does not return to power in Cambodia will have the support of all civilised people in view of the appalling atrocities that were carried out in that country when they were last in power? I have met personally many victims. Is he aware that we shall back any efforts that the Government make in this direction?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his remarks. In our capacity as a member of the Permanent Five of the United Nations, we have been working very hard in this respect over the past few months. The latest meeting was the fifth of such meetings.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, is the Minister aware of the news which was released from Paris this morning that Mr James Baker, following a meeting with Mr Eduard Shevardnadze, has announced a major shift in American policy? I refer—as has the noble Baroness—to the report that they intend to seek the removal of the Khmer Rouge from the United Nations seat, and also that they are now prepared to start discussing the Cambodian situation with the Vietnamese. This is a major shift in policy which was only made known this morning at about 11 o'clock.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
Yes, my Lords; I am aware of that announcement. I have already answered the first part of the noble Lord's question regarding the United Nations seat. It is clearly extremely welcome news that the Americans are proposing to talk to the Vietnamese on the Cambodian situation.

§ Lord Jenkins of Putney
My Lords, can the noble Lord be more specific about our position in the matter? Is it not the case that the report (which seems to be reliable) indicates that the United States of 860 America definitely supports the Khmer Rouge occupancy of the UN seat? Are we in exactly the same position?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, as I said, we have already made it clear that in the autumn we shall need to review our stand regarding the Cambodian seat at the United Nations. We do not wish the Khmer Rouge to continue to occupy that seat. Obviously, we would rather that the peace process makes advances and that the Supreme National Council will be formed in time to occupy that seat.

§ Lord Richard
My Lords, I understand from what the Minister said that the five permanent members of the Security Council have now agreed on the composition of the Supreme National Council. The House will know—and I am sure the Minister will agree—that this is crucial to a settlement. However, can he tell us what part the Khmer Rouge is to play in the Supreme National Council?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, the Five have agreed on the composition, powers and functions of the Supreme National Council. It will be up to the Cambodian parties to decide who should be part of the council. The important aspect to bear in mind as regards the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot is the fact that the members must be acceptable to each other.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, I support what many noble Lords have said. However, is it not the case that the announcement made by the American Secretary of State is to the effect that they have changed their policy radically, and that they are challenging the Khmer Rouge's position as the Cambodian representative in the United Nations? Therefore, can we take it from the Minister that Her Majesty's Government support this policy without equivocation? Further, will he give us an assurance that his department will be in touch with the American State Department in order to ensure how to go forward in order to get rid of the Khmer Rouge's representative in the United Nations?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, we shall certainly be discussing this matter with the Americans at the earliest opportunity. As has been said, this news has only recently been released. We regard it as welcome news.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, does the Minister recall that when we debated this issue in the House every speaker was anxious about the fact that supporters of Pol Pot were creeping back into power? Is he aware that this development was recognised most by the Australian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs? Therefore, can he say whether we are in close contact with the Australians, who have taken the lead in the matter? I hope that they can count on the support of this country and of the Government.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
Yes, my Lords; we keep closely in touch with Senator Evans on the matter. It was his proposal in the first place that the United Nations should play a more significant role in a transitional authority for Cambodia. That is exactly what the five permanent members have been discussing over the past few months.

§ Lord Rea
My Lords, can the Minister tell us what representations Her Majesty's Government are making to the Thai Government who, by allowing arms to reach the Khmer Rouge and acting as host to them in camps on the Cambodian border, are playing a crucial role in prolonging the conflict? Can he say how that government defends this position now that the Vietnamese have withdrawn their forces from Cambodia?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, we keep in touch with the Thai Government and other ASEAN countries which are closely involved in the matter. However, it is the Chinese who have been supplying arms to the Khmer Rouge. They are a member of the Permanent Five group. The fact that they are taking part in the discussions among the five permanent members is an encouraging sign.