HL Deb 27 September 2000 vol 616 cc172-3WA
Viscount Chandos

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether violation of the United Nations sanctions against the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is continuing. [HL3693]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Sadly, we have reason to believe that violations of the sanctions against UNITA are continuing. We are aware of reports that UNITA continues to fuel its war effort by selling diamonds, and that such private sales have taken place recently in Libreville, Gabon. We have heard that another private sale may be held in Libreville within the next month. We will be raising these reports urgently with the Gabonese authorities, and urging them to do everything in their power to prevent this illicit trade. We will also be passing this information to the Chairman of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee.

We also have reason to believe that Victor Bout continues to supply arms to Angola in breach of the UN arms embargo. We call on all states to fulfil their international obligations to implement and enforce mandatory sanctions imposed by the Security Council of the United Nations; there can be no excuse for any state to provide support for Bout in his continued flouting of UN sanctions.