HC Deb 26 January 1999 vol 324 cc214-5W
Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many arms embargoes were in force on 1 December 1997; who they were against; on what date each relevant Order in Council was made; on what date a copy of each Order in Council was sent to the relevant British embassy or high commission; and on what date each order in Council was first read by the relevant British ambassador or high commissioner. [67698]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

At 1 December 1997, the following arms embargoes were in operation:

UN Iraq UNSCR 661 adopted on 6 August 1990. (The resolution imposed a general ban on exports, including arms.) The Iraq and Kuwait (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1990 was made on 8 August 1990. Somalia UNSCR 733 adopted on 23 January 1992. The United Nations Arms Embargoes (Liberia, Somalia and the Former Yugoslavia) Order was made on 20 July 1993. Libya UNSCR 748 adopted on 31 March 1992. The Libya (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1992 was made on 8 April 1992, replaced by the Libya (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1993 made on 16 November 1993. Liberia UNSCR 788 adopted on 19 November 1992. The United Nations Arms Embargoes (Liberia, Somalia and the Former Yugoslavia) Order was made on 20 July 1993. Angola UNSCR 864 adopted on 15 September 1993. The Angola (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1993 was made on 29 September 1993. Rwanda (and neighbouring States if for use in Rwanda) UNSCR 1011 adopted on 16 August 1995, replacing UNSCR 918 adopted on 17 May 1994. The United Nations Arms Embargoes (Amendment) (Rwanda) Order was made on 22 June 1994 and the United Nations Arms Embargoes (Rwanda) (Amendment) Order was made on 12 February 1997. Sierra Leone UNSCR 1132 adopted on 8 October 1997. The Sierra Leone (United Nations Sanctions) Order was made on 30 October 1997.

EU

  • Afghanistan
  • adopted on 17 December 1996
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • adopted 26 February 1996 but entered into force 13 March 1996 (maintaining earlier ban on Former Yugoslavia)
  • Burma
  • declared 29 July 1991
  • China
  • declared 27 June 1989
  • Croatia
  • adopted 26 February 1996 but entered into force 13 March 1996 (maintaining earlier ban on Former Yugoslavia)
  • Nigeria
  • adopted 20 November 1995
  • Sudan
  • adopted 15 March 1994

OSCE

  • Armenia
  • agreed 28 February 1992
  • Azerbaijan
  • agreed 28 February 1992.

In addition, the UK restricted the export of arms to the following countries:

  • Argentina
  • with effect from 3 April 1982
  • Iran
  • with effect from 1 March 1993.

Orders in Council are made in respect of arms embargoes imposed by the United Nations Security Council. (Other embargoes are implemented under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994.) Until recently, it was the practice to circulate copies of the relevant resolutions, rather than copies of the Orders in Council, or summaries of them, to the relevant High Commissions or Embassies. Since July 1998 all FCO Departments and Posts overseas and all Whitehall Departments have been sent details of the scope and provisions of all new sanctions, including arms embargoes.

Forward to