§ 30. Mr. LoveTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on her Department's policy towards Sierra Leone. [95609]
§ Clare ShortBritain's policy towards Sierra Leone is directed at building a lasting peace and security and promoting poverty reduction and sustainable development.
For the sake of its beleaguered and war-weary people, we are doing all we can to support the implementation of the peace settlement signed at Lomé on 7 July 1999. Our first priority, in common with the rest of the international community, is to help create security and stability through the urgent implementation of the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programme. As well as providing humanitarian assistance directly to communities and to the refugees of war we are also providing emergency budgetary support to enable the country meet its debt servicing obligations, a pre-requisite to obtaining IMF and other financial support. My Department is also preparing a development programme which will contribute towards the establishment of effective government, at local and national levels.