HC Deb 31 October 2002 vol 391 cc950-1W
Dr. Tonge

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting between President Museveni and President Kagame in London last week. [76970]

Clare Short

President Museveni and President Kagame recommitted themselves and their Governments to the Understanding they signed last November in London on not interfering in each others' political and security affairs. They agreed to make more regular and effective use of the mechanisms that had been put in place to resolve differences and to avoid recourse to the use of the media. The UK agreed to continue to act as third party in this process.

Equally importantly, Presidents Museveni and Kagame agreed to work together to achieve pace and stability in the region. They urged President Mbeki of South Africa, as Chairman of the African Union, to convene an urgent regional summit to call on all parties to fully implement the Pretoria and Luanda peace agreements.

Presidents Museveni and Kagame shared my deep concern at the situation in Burundi and agreed we should all work together, especially with the Governments of Tanzania and South Africa, to get a full ceasefire and support the Transitional National Government under the Arusha Accords.

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