Democratic Republic of Congo (Hansard, 11 November 2003)

§ Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has held with the Governments of(a) Uganda, (b) Rwanda and (c) Burundi concerning hostilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [136509]

§ Mr. Mullin
From the outset of the conflict Ministers and officials have used every opportunity to discuss the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the governments in the region. We have worked with our UN and EU partners to promote restoration of peace and stability in the region. We are encouraged by the progress made since the installation of the Transitional National Government in Kinshasa earlier this year and by the recent efforts by the countries concerned to improve relations with the DRC.

§ Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have been held with UN officials on the use of child soldiers in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement on UK policy. [136510]

§ Mr. Mullin
The UK condemns the use of child soldiers. The fourth report of the UN Secretary-General on the use of children in armed conflict is due shortly and this will lead to a debate on this issue in the UN Security Council in the next few months. The UK discusses the issue with a range of UN bodies, particularly the Special Representative on Children in Armed Conflict, and works with the UN system to 203W eradicate the use of child soldiers, including support through the Department for International Development for a UNICEF programme of capacity building to strengthen its response in emergency situations. A key element of this programme is improving its advocacy on the situation of children affected by armed conflict at all levels.
Within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a number of child protection advisers have been deployed as an integral part of the ongoing UN mission there. The UK supports UN projects in the DRC such as disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants, including child soldiers.

§ Jeremy Corbyn
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the political groupings in the Democratic Republic of Congo concerning a peace process to end current hostilities. [136531]

§ Mr. Mullin
Since the outbreak of the conflict in 1998 the UK has put its weight behind regional peace initiatives, maintaining a dialogue with all the main belligerents in the conflict to urge them to bring about a negotiated settlement. The Agreements signed in Lusaka (August 1999) and Pretoria Agreement (July 2002), and the Global and Inclusive Accord (December 2002) laid the foundation for the establishment of a transitional government in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Now that this is in place the UK continues its dialogue with the parties, including as a member of the Kinshasa-based International Committee of Support to the Transition.
The UK also supports efforts to bring an end to conflict in the Ituri region of north-eastern DRC. This has included through our contribution to the EU-led Operation Artemis and financial and other support to the Interim Ituri Administration.