§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are refusing licences for the export of arms and military equipment (including dual-use) to both Ethiopia and Eritrea until such times as their border dispute are satisfactorily resolved; and whether they will ask the members of NATO, the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation Europe and the Commonwealth to adopt similar policies. [HL2001]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Following the resumption of fighting on 6 February we were instrumental in passing UN Security Council Resolution 1227 of 10 February which urged all states to end immediately all sales of arms and munitions to Ethiopia and Eritrea. My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Tony Lloyd MP) announced in another place on 15 February a UK arms embargo on both countries. At our suggestion a legally binding EU arms embargo was agreed on 15 March.
In accordance with these arms embargos we are refusing export licence applications to both countries. We expect these embargos to remain in force until this dispute is resolved peacefully.
We remain concerned at the continued flow of weapons into the region and urge all countries to end the sale of arms to Ethiopia and Eritrea.