§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have seen the statement by the French Minister of Overseas Development Cooperation that it may be necessary to dispatch an international humanitarian military force to Burundi within days, what is their position on this analysis 19WA and what action they will be recommending in the Security Council.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyI have seen no such statement. Indeed, our contacts with the French Government have established that they share our view that the despatch of an international military force to Burundi, in the absence of the clear and widespread consent of the parties in Burundi, would be inappropriate. Reports of Minister Debré's recent press conference in Bujumbura are consistent with this position.