HC Deb 06 November 2003 vol 412 cc811-3W
Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support and advice is being provided to the interim government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. [136343]

Hilary Benn

The Government have recently informed the Transitional National Government (TNG) of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and made public, a significant stepping up of its engagement with the DRC, following the installation of the TNG this summer. This year, our programme will amount to £23 million.

Ensuring a successful transition process, including embedding the TNG, is crucial to our overall goal of ensuring peace and poverty reduction in the DRC and through that, the region as a whole. As a member of the International Committee for Support to the Transition, we are pressing for a well developed and shared understanding between donors and government of the Transition Process and of the varied challenges and milestones that the process will entail, as well as strong day-to-day co-ordination of their support efforts.

We are providing £700,000 in direct support for the basic infrastructure needs of the Transition Institutions, which include the President and four Vice Presidents, Government, Parliament, Senate, Supreme Court and the five Democracy Support Commissions (Elections, Human Rights, Truth and Reconciliation, Anti-Corruption and Media). We are considering technical assistance for the drawing up of a national Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) strategy, a Security Sector Reform (SSR) strategy and a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP). We are also looking at providing some civil service capacity building support to the Government with UNDP and other donors.

It is crucial for DRC and the wider Great Lakes region that the transition process remains on track. We will therefore make continued efforts to strengthen and consolidate peace, which include humanitarian work, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants, army, police and justice sector reform, and grassroots peace-building work.

Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what efforts are being made to ensure that the forthcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo will be free and fair. [136346]

Hilary Benn

We believe that national elections are a key part of the transition period under way in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and an important challenge for the new Transitional National Government (TNG). This will require not only support from donors but also strong and effective engagement by civil society and a free and responsible media.

We are currently providing £700,000 in direct support for the basic infrastructure needs of the Transition Institutions, which include the President and four Vice Presidents, Government, Parliament, Senate, Supreme Court and the five Democracy Support Commissions, including the Independent Electoral Commission. When the financial needs of the electoral process become clearer, we will consider what further support we might give. With other donors and the TNG, we are looking at how we can provide core funding for all five Democracy Support Commissions (Elections, Human Rights, Anti-Corruption, Media and Truth and Reconciliation). We are promoting donor coordination and harmonisation to ensure an effective approach towards all aspects of holding free and fair elections.

Media pluralism is critical for encouraging and supporting political pluralism. We are therefore providing support to the media sector not only as above through the Media Commission, but also: through £500,000 funding to Panos Paris, an NGO who are working to build capacity and strengthen the media sector to improve access to, and quality of information; and over £1 million through Foundation Hirondelle to support Radio Okapi, the UN linked radio station which broadcasts good quality news and peace messages and will play an important part in the elections.

Finally, free and fair elections will not happen unless the transition process remains on track. We will, therefore make continued efforts to strengthen and consolidate peace, which include humanitarian work, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants, army, police and justice sector reform, and grassroots peace-building work.

Mrs. Spelman

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the report by a UN commission on the misuse of the Democratic Republic of Congo's natural resources. [136347]

Hilary Benn

I am currently considering the Final Report of the UN Panel of Experts on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo and I shall write to the hon. Lady as soon as possible.