Sierra Leone (Hansard, 18 June 1998)

§ Mr. Howard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive Sir Thomas Legg' s report. [46028]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 15 June 1998]Sir T. Legg said that he will complete his investigation and report as soon as possible. He is currently interviewing witnesses and examining evidence.

§ Mr. Howard
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what point in the drafting of United Nations Security Resolution 1132 the unambiguous reference to the arms ban applying to both the Government-in-exile of President Kabbah and their replacement was replaced by more general terminology; which Governments moved the amendment; what was the position of Her Majesty's Government; if the documents relating to such will be made available to Sir Thomas Legg QC; and if he will make a statement. [46277]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 16 June 1998]At no stage during the drafting of Security Council Resolution 1132 did the draft under consideration in New York refer to the arms ban applying to both the Government in exile of President Kabbah and their replacement. The earliest and all subsequent drafts referred only to a ban on the sale or supply of arms and related material to Sierra Leone. Sir Thomas Legg has access to all documents germane to his investigation, including those relating to the drafting of Security Council Resolution 1132.

§ Mr. Wilshire
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Baroness Symons was informed by officials of alleged United Nations sanctions breaking by Sandline International. [46021]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 16 June 1998]I refer to the answer given by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Baroness Symons, to a Private Notice Question from Lord Avebury in another place on 15 June 1995,Official Report, House of Lords, column 1287–89.

§ Mr. Wilshire
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the advice he has received on the legal interpretation of UN Resolution 1132 provided by the United Nation's lawyers. [46062]

§ Mr. Robin Cook
[holding answer 16 June 1998]Our interpretation of SCR 1132 was set out in my reply to a question from the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Blunt) 4 June 1998,Official Report, columns 345-46. The legal advice on which this interpretation is based has been made available to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs. The Government's interpretation has not been affected by the advice sent to the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Sanctions Committee of the United Nations by the UN's Legal Counsel. Subsequent discussion in the Sanctions Committee revealed that different member states held differing views on the Legal Counsel's advice.