HL Deb 28 June 1999 vol 603 cc3-4WA
Lord Hylton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will refer the current fighting between (a) India and Pakistan and (b) Eritrea and Ethiopia to the United Nations Security Council; if not, why not; and, if not, how they consider these conflicts may best be resolved. [HL3005]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The Security Council is already actively seized of the situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea. In its resolution 1226 of 29 January 1999, the Council expressed its strong support for the mediation efforts of the Organisation of African Unity and affirmed that the OAU Framework Agreement represented a viable basis for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. In its resolution 1227 of 10 February 1999, the Security Council demanded that Ethiopia and Eritrea resume diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict and strongly urged all States to end immediately all sales of arms and munitions to Ethiopia and Eritrea. The United Kingdom has been pressing both countries to commit themselves to this process.

Neither the United Kingdom nor any other Member of the Security Council has referred the current fighting between India and Pakistan to the Security Council. The Government believe that the underlying causes of the conflict are best addressed by India and Pakistan on a bilateral basis. We have urged both sides to maintain their dialogue and to look urgently for ways of reducing tension in the region.