§ Mrs. SpelmanTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions have been held with the Governments of(a) Rwanda and (b) Uganda concerning their involvement in the future of the Democratic Republic of Congo. [136344]
§ Hilary BennWe have maintained a close dialogue with the Governments of Rwanda and Uganda, and indeed with the former government and now the Transitional National Government (TNG) in Kinshasa, on the need for good neighbourly relations as the basis for national and regional stability. We continue to do so.
Both Rwanda and Uganda have taken positive steps recently to normalise their relations with the TNG in DRC, including mutual ministerial visits and the signing in New York on 25 September 2003 of a Good Neighbourly Pact, which included commitments that all support for armed groups should end and that there should be no illegal exploitation of natural resources of the DRC.