§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions have been held by his Department with representatives of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [27434]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonOn 19 January the British Ambassador called on President Kabila in Kinshasa and on 27 January the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Foreign Minister, Bizima Karaha, called on the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd).
At both meetings we expressed our desire for a close relationship with the DRC and welcomed their commitment to democratisation and in particular the establishment of a Constitutional Commission. We emphasised the need for further progress in this direction. We encouraged greater respect for the rule of law and human rights, and in particular, we encouraged the Government to co-operate fully with the UN human rights inquiry team. The Government of the DRC assured us that the team is free to carry out its work anywhere in the country and that the Government are ready to take whatever responsibility the inquiry imputed to it.