§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on actions taken following the finding of a cache of arms in Antwerp in February 1999, in respect of the UK companies involved; what prosecutions have occurred; and what measures have been enforced to prevent repetition of similar arms dealing. [128111]
§ Mr. HainAs my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out in answer to a similar question from the hon. Gentleman on 14 July 1999,Official Report, columns 239–40W, we have no information on the seizure of an arms consignment in February 1999 in Antwerp. But we are aware that a shipment of goods originating in Germany, destined for Eritrea, was seized by Belgian Customs authorities in Antwerp in August 1998. The matter remains with the Belgian courts. No charges have been brought as yet.
A resumption of fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea on 12 May led to the adoption of UN Resolution 1298 on 18 May, co-sponsored by the UK, imposing on both countries a mandatory arms embargo and a ban on the provision of related technical assistance or training.