§ Mr. David AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent meetings he has had with visiting Ministers from the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on relations with that country. [91829]
§ Mr. Tony LloydI met the then Foreign Minister for the Democratic Republic of the Congo in December 1998, and this year have met the Ministers of Finance and Human Rights during their visits to Britain. I visited Kinshasa in February 1999 and met President Kabila and other Ministers. We enjoy normal diplomatic relations with the DRC. Britain welcomes the signature of a ceasefire agreement in Lusaka on 10 July by the DRC and other countries concerned. We stand ready with the rest of the international community to help consolidate the peace.