§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assistance his Department has(a) offered and (b) given to the Government and armed forces of Angola with regard to the planned integration of the UNITA rebel forces into the regular army; and if he will make a statement; [58907]
(2) what assistance his Department has (a) offered and (b) given to the Government and armed forces of Angola (i) from April 2000 to April 2002 and (ii) since April 2002; and if he will make a statement. [58911]
739W
§ Mr. IngramThe assistance the Ministry of Defence provides to Governments and armed forces overseas is co-ordinated closely with that provided by other Government Departments. In the case of Angola, no assistance has been offered or given by MOD to the Government and armed forces, either during the time frame in question or in support of the planned integration of UNITA forces. However, Her Majesty's Government remain in close contact with the Angolan Government, the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative for Africa, and international partners, and have offered to the Government of Angola an opportunity to visit Sierra Leone to see at first hand the challenges of integrating ex-combatants. MOD will, of course, be involved as appropriate with this initiative, should it go ahead.