§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policy stance the Western European Union has taken on the proposed French military initiative in Rwanda.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryA number of WEU member states, including the United Kingdom, have indicated their readiness to assist and support the French initiative in Rwanda primarily through the provison of logistic resources, which might be co-ordinated through the WEU, and humanitarian assistance.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches he has had from the French Government for military support in Rwanda; and what reply he has given.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe French approached the United Kingdom, as well as other European allies, for logistic support for the intervention in Rwanda authorised under Security Council resolution 929. In the event, we understand that the French supported their operation nationally.
522W
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of when the UN Security Council's decision to deploy 5,500 troops in Rwanda will be enacted.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWork on the deployment of additional troops authorised by Security Council resolution 918 is already under way. The UN expect that the force will begin to deploy in July.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the British Government are now taking through the United Nations to bring about an end to the genocide in Rwanda.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe United Kingdom has supported all Security Council action aimed at bringing the attacks on civilians in Rwanda to an end. We have also offered logistic support to the expanded UNAMIR operation.
The United Kingdom supported the resolution adopted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on 25 May which appointed a special rapporteur for human rights in Rwanda. The special rapporteur is gathering information for the United Nations Secretary General on acts which may constitute breaches of international humanitarian law and crimes against humanity, including acts of genocide in Rwanda.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to provide logistical support for African countries supplying peacekeeping troops to Rwanda.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe United Kingdom offered the United Nations 50 four-wheel drive trucks for use in the United assistance mission to Rwanda.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement regarding the situation in Rwanda.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms Jackson) by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 15 June, column615.
Since then the United Nations Security Council has authorised a two-month humanitarian intervention by the French Government. We voted in favour and remain ready to assist with emergency aid for those displaced in Rwanda as access improves. We have urged that the UNAMIR force should deploy as quickly as possible and that the French operation should not cut across United Nations action to end the bloodshed.