HC Deb 03 July 2000 vol 353 c3W
Dr. Stoate

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent SPLA violations of the ceasefire in Bahr al-Ghazal, Sudan. [129074]

Mr. Hain

We have been following with grave concern reports of violations by the SPLA of the humanitarian ceasefire in Bahr al-Ghazal and in particular the attack on the town of Gogrial. We call on the SPLA and the Sudanese Government to exercise restraint, to respect humanitarian principles and the agreed ceasefire in that region and to work to negotiate a comprehensive, permanent, effectively monitored ceasefire throughout Sudan. We reaffirm our support for the peace efforts being made under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and firmly believe that only a negotiated settlement can bring all the people of Sudan the peace and stability they deserve.