§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what statements the Nigerian head of state has made recently about the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group forces in Liberia; what action is being proposed by the United Nations to respond to a withdrawal by the Nigerians from the ECOMOG forces; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydIn a broadcast on Radio Nigeria on 24 June, President Abacha said that Nigeria intended to pull out of Liberia. In his fifth progress report on the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia, the United Nations Secretary-General noted concerns expressed by the President of Nigeria at the financial burden of participation in ECOMOG. The Secretary-General urged that troops should not be withdrawn precipitately and undertook to endeavour to obtain additional financial support from member states. The United States has contributed about US$30 million, while we have provided US$1 million of humanitarian aid.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what commitments were made by the Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture when he met recently with the British high commissioner to Nigeria.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydHer Majesty's high commissioner called on the Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture on 17 June. The Minister stated the Nigerian Government's commitment to hand over to a democratically elected Government in the shortest possible time.