§ Mr. RapsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures Her Majesty's 35W Government have taken to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173 (1998) which imposed further sanctions on UNITA as from 1 July. [52366]
§ Mr. Tony Lloyd[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1998, c. 689-91]Additional information has reached me since my answer of 23 July. The correct answer is as follows.
Resolution 1173 imposed a freeze on the funds and financial resources of UNITA, its officials and their immediate families; a ban on most official contacts in Angola with UNITA; a prohibition on the import of diamonds outside the governmental certificate of origin regime; and prohibitions on the sale or supply of equipment which may be used in mining or transportation, and on transportation services.
We have instructed all our diplomatic missions overseas to avoid any contact with UNITA, whether locally or in Angola. There is one exception: our Embassy in Luanda may continue to have contacts with UNITA officials in areas of Angola to which State Administration has been extended. This is in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1173 (1998) which prohibits certain official contacts with UNITA.
The prohibition on the importation of diamonds will be given effect in the United Kingdom by amendment to the Open General Import Licence.
The remainder of the prohibitions are to be implemented in the UK by the Angola (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1998 and in the Overseas Territories by the Angola (United Nations Sanctions) (Dependent Territories) Order 1998 made on 21 July and laid in July.
Similar Orders have been made to give effect to the Resolution in the Crown Dependencies. These orders restrict the sale or supply of certain goods which may be used in mining or transportation and the supply of transportation services; impose a freeze on the funds and financial resources in relation to UNITA and persons connected with UNITA; and for the Overseas Territories and Channel Islands, restrict the importation of diamonds exported from Angola on or after 1 July 1998. There is provision for medical and humanitarian exceptions.