§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department will be taking to support the newly created Transitional National Government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement. [124006]
§ Mr. MullinWe warmly welcome the announcement on 30 June 2003 of the proposed new Transitional National Government (TNG) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We are encouraging the parties to ensure that inauguration of the TNG happens soon, as the next step on the road to peace and democracy.
The Department for International Development is preparing a strategy to support the DRC during the transition and beyond. We are working closely with them on this.
§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the leaders of the814W (a) Democratic Republic of the Congo, (b) Rwanda and (c) Uganda on preventing the supplying, training and arming of rebel groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [124008]
§ Mr. MullinWe are in regular contact with the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda and Uganda. We continue to call on them to stop all support to all armed groups throughout the DRC. UN Security Council Resolution 1484 of 30 May demanded that all states in the Great Lakes region refrain from any activity which could further destabilise the situation in Ituri, and
the cessation of all support, in particular weapons and any other military materiel, to the armed groups and militias".It further demanded that all Congolese parties and all states in the region actively prevent the supply of such support.
§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received regarding the conflict in the east and north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [124010]
§ Mr. MullinThe UN-mandated Interim Emergency Multinational Force has reached operational capacity and has made good progress. The situation in Bunia is reported to be much calmer since demilitarisation of the town. The UK has contributed five staff officers to the Force Headquarters and an engineer detachment (around 76 strong).
There have been a series of military confrontations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's other troubled eastern provinces, the Kivus, between the Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD-Goma) and various other groups. A ceasefire agreement was signed in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura, on 19 June by the RCD-Goma, the Rally for Congolese Democracy-Liberation Movement and the FAC (DRC Government forces), which we welcome. We hope that the inauguration of the Transitional National Government in Kinshasa—anticipated later this month—will reduce tension in the Kivus.