HL Deb 16 February 1999 vol 597 cc71-2WA
Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking to implement the non-binding arms embargo against Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNSCR 1227) and to publicise the ban.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale

In light of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1227 the Government have banned exports from the UK to Ethiopia and Eritrea of all goods and technology on the Military List, which forms Part III of Schedule I to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994. The Government have also set in hand action to amend the order so that a licence is required for all transshipments of such goods through the UK to either country and, given the embargo, no such licences will be issued. The Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories have been asked to take appropriate action to enforce the ban in their own jurisdictions.

The Government are also pressing for the EU to adopt a mandatory arms embargo.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be issuing a press release on the embargo. An updated version of the list of all UK policy commitments on the application of strategic export controls, including arms embargoes. will be placed in the Library of the House. The FCO has already issued guidance on the ban to departments in London, to posts overseas and to other Whitehall departments.