§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on committing United Kingdom Government funds to the UN voluntary fund for the Organisation of African Unity's peacekeeping mission to Burundi.
§ Mr. GoodladWe have no plans to contribute to the UN voluntary fund for an Organisation of African Unity peacekeeping mission to Burundi. We have already committed $1 million to the UN trust fund for Liberia and we anticipate that other European partners, which did not contribute to that fund, will take the lead on Burundi.
British assistance in Burundi is focused on the appalling problem of refugees and displaced persons. We have already contributed £350,000 to a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees appeal and £100,000 to the International Red Cross. In addition, we are considering urgently other non-governmental organisations requests for humanitarian assistance to refugees within Burundi. We support discussions between the OAU and the European Union on ways in which more systematic help can be given to African conflict resolution mechanisms.