§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What confirmation they have received of the undertakings given by the Angolan President, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the Namibian President, Sam Nujoma, and the Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, that the forces of those countries would be withdrawn from the Democratic Republic of Congo by the end of October. [HL6259]
§ Baroness Amos:The UK has not received any official confirmation from the Governments of Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe that the forces of those countries would be withdrawn from the Democratic Republic of Congo by the end of October. The UN mission in the DRC (MONUC) has reported that the Namibian forces have already left the DRC. The Angolans and Zimbabweans recently met in Kinshasa to announce a joint programme to complete the departure of remaining Zimbabwean and Angolan troops. There was a military ceremony on 30 October to symbolise the final departure. We expect UN observers to confirm shortly whether these withdrawals have been completed.
§ Lord Aveburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will draw to the attention of other Commonwealth states the report by Amnesty International Democratic Republic of Congo: Making a killing; the diamond trade in government-controlled DRC and the report by the United Nations panel of experts on the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo. [HL6260]
§ Baroness Amos:The UK will draw attention to the report by the United Nations panel of experts on the illegal exploitation of natural resources and other forms of wealth of the Democratic Republic of Congo to other Commonwealth states. Amnesty 105WA International normally distributes its reports widely to governments and other interested parties.