HC Deb 01 November 2001 vol 373 cc807-8W
Mr. Kevan Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the export of a water purification unit to Uruguay for ultimate end-use in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [12316]

Mr. Bradshaw

Following consultations with this Department and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry issued an export licence for a water purification unit to Uruguay for the Uruguayan armed forces. The equipment will be used by the Uruguayan army in the DRC where they are part of the United Nations operation. The equipment will provide the Uruguayans with sufficient clean water for their troops operating in the DRC. As part of the United Nations Mission in Congo, these troops, along with other UN agencies and NGOs, will play a role in facilitating humanitarian assistance to the Congolese people. This decision is consistent with and does not affect the Government's continued support for the EU declaration of 7 April 1993 on arms exports to the DRC.

Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to(a) the Rwandan Government and (b) the Ugandan Government concerning their involvement in the war in the Congo. [11148]

Mr. Bradshaw

In recent months my noble Friend Baroness Amos and the Secretary of State for International Development have spoken personally to the Presidents of both countries about their involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They stressed the need for a peaceful end to the conflict in compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions. We will continue to do so at every opportunity.

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