§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their assessment of the significance of the Burundi dimension to the overall crisis in the Great Lakes region; and what action they are supporting both bilaterally and multilaterally to deal with it. [HL227]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal)Instability in Burundi contributes to insecurity in the rest of the Great Lakes region. Resolution of the Burundi conflict will improve the prospects for peace throughout the region. There can be no military solution to the situation in Burundi. We have urged all parties in Burundi to dedicate themselves to a negotiated settlement. The UK has contributed over £450,000 to the Burundi peace negotiations and stands ready to support further a credible commitment to peace. We continue to work with our EU and regional partners in the search for peace in Burundi. The recent appointment of Nelson Mandela as a mediator is very welcome and we will offer any assistance to him that we can.