HC Deb 02 March 1994 vol 238 cc753-5W
Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the peace process in Mozambique and the United Kingdom's contribution to it.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We are concerned about delays in implementing the general peace agreement in Mozambique, especially the assembly/demobilisation of forces. The parties must address these delays urgently so that the elections can take place on schedule in October 1994.

The United Kingdom has made a crucial contribution by training 540 Mozambican instructors to train the unified Mozambican army. We shall continue, in the United Nations and elsewhere, to actively support the Mozambican peace process.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the total cost of United Kingdom aid and assistance to Government and Renamo political and democratic training in Mozambique;

(2) what assistance he is giving to Renamo in respect of democratic training and the development of political structures.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

We have made no direct contribution to democratic training in the development of political structures in Renamo or to political and democratic training in Mozambique. We have, however, provided from diplomatic wing funds £18,000 worth of office equipment for Renamo's office in Maputo, and small amounts for three other parties—PCN, PPPM and UNAMO.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the Nyanga training phase of the formation of the new Mozambique defence force.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

British Army instructors trained 540 instructors for the new unified Mozambican army, FADM, from October to December 1993. The latter have now returned to Mozambique, where they will train the main infantry battalions of FADM. A small British Army training team is assisting them. Formation of FADM is a crucial part of the peace process.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact or communication he has had with representatives of Renamo since October 1992.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The Renamo leader met my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey during his visit to London on 22 February 1993 and had talks with officials. Our ambassador in Maputo has travelled to the Renamo base in Mozambique several times and my right hon. and noble Friend Baroness Chalker of Wallasey met Mr. Dhaklama there on 10 December 1993. We continue to maintain regular contacts with Renamo officials in Maputo, and our ambassador met Mr. Dhaklama there on 27 February.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to, or received from, parties involved in the demobilisation process in Mozambique.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The United Kingdom is a member of all four commissions set up under the general peace agreement between the Government of Mozambique and Renamo and responsible for overseeing implementation of the peace process. We are active in these commissions to help move the process, including demobilisation, forward. In addition, our ambassador regularly meets both senior Mozambican officials and members of the Government of Mozambique as well as Renamo leaders.

Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the approximate cost of United Kingdom military aid to Mozambique, in both Mozambique and Zimbabwe, each year since 1980, expressed in money terms, real terms in 1980, and as a real term percentage increase or decrease on the previous year.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am unable to give the figures for United Kingdom military aid to Mozambique: these figures are confidential between the Governments concerned.

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