HL Deb 28 October 1999 vol 606 cc378-80

3.10 p.m.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further steps they consider should be taken to bring about a permanent cease-fire and resolution of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)

My Lords, we are concerned that peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea remains elusive. We continue to urge both sides bilaterally, through the European Union and in the United Nations Security Council, to refrain from a return to military action and to accept and implement the Organisation of African Unity peace proposals immediately.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, does the Minister agree that Eritrea has signed up to every letter of the OAU framework agreement—and the modalities and technical arrangements which accompany it—whereas, since the beginning of August, Ethiopia has continued to prevaricate? Only this week, Ethiopia told the special envoy, OAU President Bouteflika, that it will not sign up to the technical arrangements because there is no guarantee of a return to the status quo ante, the very issue which has to be determined by the UN Demarcation Commission. In view of the fact that the Ethiopians seem determined not to make peace, will her Majesty's Government, as a permanent member of the Security Council, take the issue back and bring further pressure to bear on Ethiopia to comply fully with the OAU framework agreement?

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have taken every step to encourage the Ethiopians to accept and engage in the proposals. However, it is right to remember that Eritrea has only recently come to the table. It, too, has had its difficulties in the past. It is important now that Ethiopia be given every encouragement to engage fully. The Secretary of State for International Development has spoken to both Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia and President Isaias of Eritrea, on 13th and 19th October respectively. We continue to urge both sides to engage fully and constructively in this process. We sincerely hope that they will.

Lord Rea

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that I was fortunate enough to be a member of a parliamentary delegation which was invited to Ethiopia in July? We were treated very generously, for which I am extremely grateful. While we were there, our hosts seemed more concerned to promote their innocence and Eritrea's guilt than to seek peace. Will my noble friend take notice of the plea of the noble Lord. Lord Avebury, and put as much pressure as possible on Ethiopia to sign up to the accord now that Eritrea has done so? Ethiopia has had great respect for Britain since we liberated it from Mussolini in 1940.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, I have said already that both sides accept the framework proposals and the modalities for implementation presented by the OAU on 6th November 1998 and on 14th July 1999 respectively. Eritrea accepts the technical arrangements, but Ethiopia still has concerns about some of them. Along with the rest of the international community, we have consistently supported the OAU process since the start of the conflict. We shall continue with vigour to urge the Ethiopians to com,:, fully to the table. We acknowledge that they have agreed the framework. Obviously, we should now like to see that agreement taken forward into action.

Viscount Brentford

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that it is important to maintain the pressure on them for the benefit of the whole of the north-east corner of Africa? A bitter war will accelerate other conflicts.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, we are aware of that. We need to use pressure and encouragement. We are using every endeavour to encourage them to come to the table. Unless and until they do, fully and willingly, there will not be a proper resolution of this difficulty. Forcing and hammering them to do so with out understanding the sensitivities involved will not achieve what we want in the end; that is, a real, lasting peace.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, the Minister said that we continue to urge both sides to engage fully in the process. Does that not ignore the fact that Eritrea has signed up fully to the technical arrangements, whereas Ethiopia continues to argue about the detail—even though the Secretary-General's special envoy has said that the technical arrangements are an unalterable part of the framework agreement? In the circumstances, bearing in mind that there is an impasse, does the noble Baroness agree that the only step open to us is to take the matter back to the Security Council, which has not considered it since February?

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

My Lords, I acknowledge entirely that Eritrea has accepted the arrangements. The view of Her Majesty's Government is that what is currently being done—in relation to encouragement, persuasion and a deal of pressure—is the most efficacious way forward. I know that the noble Lord is genuinely interested in resolving this difficulty, as are the Government. I hope that the noble Lord will accept that the efforts being made by Her Majesty's Government are directed solely towards that end. We feel that what we are doing at the moment is the most efficacious way forward.