Somalia (Hansard, 14 February 2000)

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions have been taken by United Kingdom representatives at the United Nations to promote a peace process in Somalia. [109486]

§ Mr. Hain
In recent years the UN Secretary-General has regularly reported to the Security Council on Somalia. After the most recent report in August last year, the UK representative repeated our full support for the Secretary-General's efforts to promote peace in Somalia and encouraged him to review the role of the UN in Somalia, including exploration of possible support for civil society as a means of increasing the chances of achieving a comprehensive and lasting settlement. The Security Council imposed a mandatory arms embargo in its Resolution 733 of 23 January 1992. We have consistently called for it to be properly enforced.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the backlog of outstanding cases of entry clearance applications for Somali nationals, broken down by the diplomatic posts which received them. [109490]

§ Mr. Vaz
Detailed information on the nationality of entry clearance applicants is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to assist peace processes in Somalia; and if he will make a statement. [109491]

§ Mr. Hain
Together with the rest of the international community, we have supported the efforts of regional and other interested states and regional organisations, including426W the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Organisation of African Unity and the Arab League, to facilitate the peace process in Somalia.
The President of IGAD, Djibouti President Ismael Omar Guelleh, is in the process of putting together new peace proposals. We welcome this initiative and look forward to seeing these proposals in detail, but the ultimate responsibility for achieving national reconciliation and for restoring peace in Somalia rests with the Somali people themselves.