HL Deb 23 January 1997 vol 577 cc63-4WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have studied the appeal by the church councils of the Sudan entitled "Here we stand united in action for peace", and whether they will continue to work, bilaterally and internationally for a supervised ceasefire, to be followed by a referendum on the future constitution.

Lord Chesham

We have studied the appeal with great interest. We will continue to work for an end to the terrible civil war in Sudan. A ceasefire is an essential part of that process. Sudan needs constitutional arrangements acceptable to all its people. The best way of ascertaining their views has yet to be established. A referendum may be part of a settlement to the war. But much will depend on whether satisfactory answers can be found to issues such as timing, the nature of the question and whether the result will be accepted and implemented.