HC Deb 05 July 1999 vol 334 cc346-7W
Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when(a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials recently met representatives of the Government of the Sudan; what was discussed; when normal diplomatic relations will be restored; and if he will make a statement. [89150]

Mr. Hoon

Dr. Hassan Abdeen, Under-Secretary at the Sudanese Ministry of External Relations, visited London during the week beginning 21 June. He paid a courtesy call on me and had other meetings with officials.

Discussions covered a wide range of issues and on 25 June a joint statement was released announcing agreement to the return of British and Sudanese staff to Khartoum and London. This is an important step in normalising relations between the two countries.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the state of the ceasefire in the Nuba Mountains, Southern Blue Nile and Western Upper Nile regions of Sudan. [89523]

Mr. Hoon

The ceasefire in southern Sudan, first agreed during the visit to the region of the late Derek Fatchett in July 1998 and recently confirmed at a meeting between the UN, the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Army, relates to Bahr el Ghazal.

We shall continue to press for a comprehensive ceasefire throughout Sudan.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning the treatment of Sudanese people in the peace camps in the Nuba Mountains in Sudan. [89520]

Mr. Hoon

Owing to the difficulty of access, we receive few reports on the situation in the Nuba Mountains. However, a UN assessment mission did visit very recently. I look forward to seeing their report.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the progress of oil excavations in southern Sudan by Western oil companies. [89524]

Mr. Hoon

Oil exploration has been going on in southern Sudan for some time. A pipeline has recently been built from fields to the Red Sea coast. I understand that oil is likely to flow through the pipeline in the near future.