Congo-Brazzaville (Hansard, 11 March 1999)

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions exist on the purchasing or moving of arms directly or indirectly through agents, or other parties in the United Kingdom or its overseas territories by those seeking to overthrow the current regime in Congo-Brazzaville. [76138]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
There is no UN or EU arms embargo in place against Congo-Brazzaville. However, irrespective of the intended destination, all applications for an individual licence to export from the UK arms or other military equipment entered in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, are considered against the criteria announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997,Official Report, columns 26–29, and the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, adopted on 8 June. At present, as noted in the 364W Government's White Paper on Strategic Export Controls, published in July 1998, HMG can control trafficking and brokering only where this is necessary to implement a binding UN resolution. However, the White Paper proposed the extension of the controls on trafficking and brokering in several areas, including to countries subject to other types of embargo, eg imposed as a result of non-binding UN resolutions or EU or OSCE decisions or nationally.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to the restoration to power in Congo-Brazzaville of Pascal Lissouba. [76139]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
The UK wishes to see the initiation of an inclusive political process in Congo-Brazzaville. This would allow reconciliation and the return of all parties, including Pascal Lissouba, to participate in national reconstruction. We have urged all parties to the conflict to show restraint, and fully support UN Security Council Resolution 867 (1997) which calls for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Congo-Brazzaville.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings or communications Foreign Office Ministers or officials have had with Pascal Lissouba since he commenced his exile from Congo-Brazzaville. [76141]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
No Foreign Office Minister has met Pascal Lissouba since his exile. FCO officials met him on 20 April and 26 June 1998 and on 10 March 1999 to hear his views on the situation on Congo-Brazzaville.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if ex-President Lissouba has been issued with documents or letters of support from Her Majesty's Government supporting or facilitating his return to office; and if he will make a statement. [76142]

§ Mr. Tony Lloyd
On 9 November 1998, ex-President Lissouba wrote to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister requesting support. In a reply on 28 November 1998, a No. 10 official reaffirmed HMG's hopes that a process of political reconciliation would be initiated in Congo-Brazzaville, noted that this would allow all parties to return to participate in a project of national reconstruction and also urged all sides to exercise restraint.
I am placing a copy of this letter in the Libraries of the House.