HL Deb 10 December 1998 vol 595 c108WA
Lord Evans of Watford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have contracted UNITA in order to obtain information about Jason Pope, a British citizen missing in Angola. [HL267]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

As an exception, and for the humanitarian purpose of obtaining information about the whereabouts and welfare of Jason Pope, we have sought and obtained an exception to paragraph 12(a) of Security Council Resolution 1173. The United Nations Angola Sanctions Committee has granted this exemption to enable our Embassy in Luanda to contact UNITA in areas of Angola not under state administration. A full report of these contacts will be supplied to the Committee.

Our Embassy in Luanda is already in contact with UNITA representatives in Luanda for the same purpose. We have also authorised our Embassy in Washington to approach the UNITA representative in Washington for assistance. Such contacts are not prohibited under UNSCR 1173.