HL Deb 10 March 1994 vol 552 cc18-9WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will discuss with the governments of Nigeria and Ghana a possible amendment to Article 14(4) of the Cotonou Agreement, so that the National Transitional Government takes office immediately rather than "concomitant with the commencement of the disarmament process", to facilitate an even and balanced reduction of forces.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

No. The Cotonou Agreement was signed by the Interim Government of National Unity, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, and the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy. Any amendment to the agreement is a matter for those signatory parties.

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will place in the Library of the House a list of the ceasefire violations in Liberia which have been reported via the United Nations observer mission in Liberia to the United Nations since the Cotonou Agreement was signed on 25 July 1993, and whether they will call for an analysis of the list by an independent person, not associated with the Economic States of West Africa Monitoring Group, Interim Government of National Unity or the NPRAG, to be presented to the next meeting of the Security Council at which the question of Liberia is considered.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

Allegations of ceasefire violations are a matter for the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee in Liberia, which comprises representatives of the United Nations observer force (UNOMIL), the regional peacekeeping force (ECOMOG), and representatives of the three Liberian signatory parties to the Cotonou Agreement. It is chaired by UNOMIL. In view of the representative nature of this committee, we see no need to call for analysis of its findings by an independent person.

Whilst a consolidated list of allegations is not available, the committee has received reports of 101 violations of the ceasefire and settled 79. The remaining 22 reported violations are under investigation

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will suggest to the United Nations Secretary-General that observers be stationed on the frontier between Liberia and Sierra Leone, to verify that no arms or military personnel are crossing this border.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

United Nations Security Council Resolution 866 of 22 September 1993 established the United Nations observer mission in Liberia (UNOMIL). The terms of UNOMIL's mandate as described in that resolution include monitoring compliance with the peace agreement and with the arms embargo,"including at points on Liberia's borders with Sierra Leone".

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