§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans there are for taking forward the commitments made at the G8 summit to support African efforts to consolidate peace in(a) Angola and (b) Sierra Leone; [69469]
1311W(2) what plans there are for taking forward the commitments made at the G8 Summit to support African efforts to resolve conflict in (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) the Sudan. [69468]
§ Mr. MacShaneIn the Africa Action Plan, adopted at Kananaskis in June, G8 leaders committed themselves to providing additional support to efforts to bring peace to the DRC and Sudan, and to consolidate peace in Angola and Sierra Leone within the next year. The Africa Action Plan is a welcome basis for increased effort and greater co-ordination with other countries involved in providing political and financial support.
§ Tony BaldryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the G8 will take forward discussions relating to war economies. [69471]
§ Mr. MacShaneIn the Africa Action Plan, adopted at Kananaskis in June, G8 leaders committed themselves to working with African governments, civil society and others to address the linkage between armed conflict and the exploitation of natural resources. A number of multilateral initiatives are already underway, for example the Kimberley Process which attempts to limit the trade in conflict diamonds, and the UN expert panels working on resource exploitation in DR Congo and Liberia. In the coming months the UK will also be seeking greater and more effective dialogue between G8 countries and the private sector on ensuring better accountability and greater transparency, and on promoting the adoption of voluntary principles of corporate social responsibility by companies involved in developing Africa's economic resources.