HC Deb 26 June 2000 vol 352 cc399-401W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role of the Committee for the Release of Prisoners of War and Non-Combatants, established under the Lomé Agreement; what representations he made to the parties on this issue; and how many prisoners of war have been released. [126887]

Mr. Hain

The Committee for the Release of Prisoners of War and Non-Combatants was established prior to the signature of the Lomé Peace Agreement. The Committee has met periodically under UN chairmanship.

Britain has regularly pressed the parties for the release of all detainees. However, many are believed to remain in the custody of the Revolutionary United Front.

No definitive figures of released prisoners of war are available.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions his office was in(a) telephone and (b) direct communication with negotiators discussing peace in Sierra Leone in Lomé; to what extent (i) the UK delegation to Togo and (ii) the West Africa section of his Department was involved; and if he will make a statement. [126890]

Mr. Hain

British officials observing the Lomé peace negotiations remained in close touch with the negotiators throughout. Ministers were kept fully informed of the progress of negotiations.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what senior(a) political, (b) military, and (c) quasi-judicial positions were occupied by Revolutionary United Front personnel as a consequence of the Lomé Peace Agreement. [126886]

Mr. Hain

Following signature of the Lomé Peace Agreement, three Cabinet positions and three Deputy Ministerial positions were allocated to members of the Revolutionary United Front. The RUF leader, Foday Sankoh, was made Chair of the Commission for the Management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development.

No military or quasi-judicial positions were occupied by members of the Revolutionary United Front.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of Article XVIII of the Lomé Agreement on Sierra Leone on the effectiveness of that country's helicopter support capabilities; and if he will make a statement. [126893]

Mr. Hain

Article XVIII of the Lomé Peace Agreement states thatAll mercenaries, in any guise, shall be withdrawn from Sierra Leone immediately upon signing of the present Agreement. Their withdrawal shall be supervised by the Joint Monitoring Commission.

As far as we are aware, this provision has made no impact on the Government of Sierra Leone's helicopter support capabilities.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the status of the trust fund established in the Lomé Peace Agreement to transform the Revolutionary United Front into a political party; how much money was paid into the fund; and what British funds were involved. [126884]

Mr. Hain

Article III of the Lomé Peace Agreement states that the Parties shall approach the international community with a view to mobilising resources for the purposes of enabling the Revolutionary United Front to function as a political party. These resources may include the setting up of a trust fund.

By the end of April, the Revolutionary United Front had not fully completed its procedures to register as a political party; nor had a trust fund been fully established.

No British funds were paid into such a trust fund.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the value of the(a) diamonds and (b) gold sold by the Commission for the Management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development established under the Lomé Peace Agreement; and what measures were put in place during negotiations on the Agreement to ensure the Sierra Leone Treasury received the entire proceeds of these sales. [126888]

Mr. Hain

The Commission for the Management of Strategic Resources, National Reconstruction and Development was created to help the Government of Sierra Leone exercise full control of the exploitation of gold, diamonds and other resources for the benefit of the people of Sierra Leone. The Lomé Peace Agreement provided that the funds derived from resources managed by the Commission would be paid into a special account at the Sierra Leone Treasury, to be sued for the benefit of the people of Sierra Leone.

Despite international support for this objective, by the end of April, the Commission and its associated mechanisms had not been fully established.