HC Deb 23 November 1999 vol 339 cc81-2W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures Her Majesty's Government have put in place to ensure the freezing of funds and financial resources of senior UNITA officials and adult members of their immediate families to comply with United Nations Security Council resolution 1173 (1998). [99157]

Mr. Hain

I refer my hon. Friend to the speech on Angola I made on 20 November 1999, a copy of which I have placed in the Library. Following adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1173 (1998), the Angola (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1998 (SI 1998/1752) came into force on 23 July. It imposes restrictions on certain actions making available or otherwise transferring funds and financial resources to or to the benefit of UNITA as an organisation or senior officials of UNITA or adult members of their immediate families.

The Angola (United Nations) (Dependent Territories) Order 1998 (SI 1998/1753) implements these measures in the Overseas Territories. The Angola (United Nations Sanctions) (Channel Islands) Order 1998 (SI 1998/1756) and the Angola (United Nations Sanctions) (Isle of Man) Order 1998 (SI 1998/1757) implements these measures in the Crown Dependencies.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government have given to the work of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Angola sanctions with regard to their investigations into(a) UNITA arms purchases, (b) UNITA oil purchases and (c) UNITA diamond sales. [99159]

Mr. Hain

We fully support the work of the UN Sanctions Committee on Angola and the Expert Panels and will make a financial contribution in the region of $200,000 towards the cost of the Expert Panels' work.

Government officials recently met members of the Panels during a visit to the UK and will hold discussions with the Chairman of the Expert Panels during his visit to the UK in December. We remain in close liaison with Ambassador Fowler, Chairman of the Sanctions Committee.

I refer my hon. Friend to the speech on Angola I made on 20 November 1999, a copy of which I have placed in the Library.

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures Her Majesty's Government have put in place to ensure the prohibition of direct and indirect imports from Angola to the United Kingdom of diamonds that are not controlled through the Certificate of Origin regime of the Angolan Government to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173 (1998). [99156]

Mr. Hain

Following adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1173 (1998), the Open General Import Licence was amended to prohibit the import into the UK of diamonds exported from Angola not accompanied by a Certificate of Origin issued by the Government of Unity and National Reconciliation of Angola (GURN).

Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what involvement Her Majesty's Government will have in the new United Nations Office in Angola to be established, pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1268 (1999). [99162]

Mr. Hain

We voted in favour of UNSC Resolution 1268 establishing the United Nations Office in Angola (UNOA). As a major contributor to the United Nations, we will be providing funds for UNOA in accordance with our budgetary responsibilities. The detail of UNOA's staffing and tasks are under discussion between the UN Secretary-General and the Government of Angola.

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