§ Lord Mitchellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there have been any recent developments concerning Victor Bout, following the allegations made in Air Cargo News of 15 April. [HL4156]
§ Baroness AmosThere have been two recent important developments. On 15 April 2002, the UK publicationAir Cargo News published an article which alleges that Victor Bout had been involved in the supply of an aircraft for Osama bin Laden in 1995. Prior to 11 September, this aircraft had reportedly been frequently overflying Iran from Saudi Arabia to Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan. It is now reportedly parked at Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. We shall be asking that the United Nations investigate this very serious allegation as a matter of great importance.
Following our past approaches to the UAE on the subject of Victor Bout, and the issuing of an international arrest warrant by the Belgian authorities, we are pleased to welcome a recent announcement by the Government of the United Arab Emirates. They have informed the United Nations Angola Monitoring 159WA Mechanism that Bout's companies, i.e. Air Cess and Trans Avia, have been prohibited from operating in the United Arab Emirates. He has also been banned from entering the United Arab Emirates personally.
We hope that this increased international pressure on Bout will finally result in the end of his sanctions-busting activities and that he will be brought to justice. The UK has played a leading role in drawing international attention to Bout's illegal activities, initially in Angola and Liberia and more recently relating to Osama bin Laden and A1 Qaeda.