Sudan (Hansard, 19 October 2000)

§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)
My Lords, there have been a number of positive developments during September. The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) talks resumed on 21st September near Nairobi. The Sudanese President met the leader of the NDA Opposition grouping on 26th September in Asmara and further talks between the Sudanese and Ugandan Governments took place on 26th and 27th September in Kampala.
However, there is still a clear need to encourage and promote an acceleration of peace negotiations, not least because of the intense suffering that the war is causing to the civilian population in the Sudan.

§ The Earl of Sandwich
My Lords, I thank the Minister for her positive reply. I know of the considerable efforts that the Foreign Office is making in Sudan; and that it has increased its diplomatic representation. Nevertheless, does she agree that after several years the IGAD process of negotiations for peace in Sudan has yielded nothing for the people of Sudan? However positive it is as a round table conversation, it has not achieved positive results.
Will the noble Baroness confirm that the Foreign Office is accelerating its efforts to encourage IGAD to bring in other parties—the Egyptians, the Libyans and the Americans—to try to achieve what the churches on the ground are already achieving in local initiatives?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his remarks about the Foreign Office. As he knows, the ambassador returned to Khartoum last year. That has been of very great help.
I cannot accept that the IGAD process has been quite as negative as the noble Earl believes. In addition to what I said about developments only last month, the noble Earl will know that the Government in the Sudan last year set up a Committee for the Eradication of Abduction of Women and Children, there was the release of the 21 "Khartoum bombers", and they have agreed to review public order and other laws.
I understand that the noble Earl believes that matters are not progressing quickly enough. The process has to be allowed to develop further. Only two years ago, it received fresh impetus, in particular from the UK Government, and last year we saw the appointment of the special envoy, the Kenyan, Daniel Mboya, who commands great respect in the region. In the United Kingdom, we are helping to fund a secretariat to back up Mr Mboya's efforts.
The noble Earl may be interested to know that the UK Government will host a meeting in London next week to bring together key partners to see what else 1193 can be done to take this process forward. So we are engaged and we agree that we have to apply ourselves even more.

§ Baroness Rawlings
My Lords, are Her Majesty's Government supporting the move to get Sudan a seat in the Security Council this year?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, as I am sure the noble Baroness will know, voting for the General Council seats is and remains a matter which countries keep to themselves. As I understand it, unless I receive some further guidance from the Foreign Office, most governments keep their voting intentions on these matters to themselves. Given the difficulties in the Sudan, I think that that is probably in the best interests of the region at present.

§ Lord Harrison
My Lords, will the Minister say a little more about the initiatives which the Government will support outside the IGAD process?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, I have been able to say what we are doing as part of the IGAD process with the core countries next week in London. The noble Lord will also know that, as a member of the EU, we are engaged in the EU critical dialogue. I believe that that is an important part of our efforts to help the peace process with Sudan. The noble Lord will also know that we engage with the United States Government who perhaps have heretofore taken a rather different attitude from the one that we have adopted. But we have noticed with considerable encouragement the appointment and work of the US Special Envoy, Mr Harry Johnston, who has also visited Khartoum in the recent past.
Within the country we engage with the NGOs, the churches and other organisations which we believe can make a contribution to the peace process.

§ The Lord Bishop of Salisbury
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Archbishop of the Episcopal Church in the Sudan will meet shortly with other Church leaders, including those from the Islamic faith in Khartoum, in order to talk about the implications of peace among ordinary people in the Sudan? Can the noble Baroness indicate how the Government may be ready to support those initiatives to bring peace to ordinary people throughout the country, north and south? Not only are they in danger, but their property is also in danger.

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, the Government applaud the initiative taken by the Church in the Sudan. As I am sure the right reverend Prelate will know, we regularly meet with Church representatives and the Christian NGOs in the Sudan. We supported the visit of the most reverend Primate the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Sudan for the inauguration of the Anglican bishop last year.
It is important that the religious, Muslim and animist groupings and others are recognised as having an important role to play in seeking peace in the 1194 Sudan. I am happy to say that our ambassador keeps very close contact with the Churches in the Sudan. I hope that they find that useful. We find it a useful channel of information about the condition of those whom the right reverend Prelate describes as the "ordinary people" in this unhappy conflict.

§ Baroness Williams of Crosby
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the outcome of the preparatory commission in Sudan yesterday is extremely encouraging, because it said that there would be a consensus on trying to establish a national peace? Will the Government make representations to encourage this weekend's Arab summit to make the theme of reconciliation and peace in areas of conflict such as Sudan and the Middle East a central part of its considerations?

§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
My Lords, it is always helpful when we see positive outcomes. We must always be cautious on such issues. The noble Baroness knows that some disturbing reports have come out of Sudan from the special rapporteur about the continuation of aerial bombings and the continued abduction of women and children. I agree with her that we should look at the positive side when we can, but we have to take a balanced view of what is happening in Sudan. The important point is that both sides are willing to talk through the IGAD process and that Mr Mboya is a highly respected figure in the region who is trusted by both sides. I hope that we will take any opportunities, including those afforded by the Arab conference this weekend and those afforded in London next week, to do what we can to take forward the peace process in the most positive way.