§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes there have been in the commitment by the UK Government to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo in(a) monetary terms, (b) assistance in kind and (c) manpower under UN Security Council Resolution 1493 compared to UN Security Council Resolution 1279; what changes have taken place since 28 July 2003; and if he will make a statement. [185680]
§ Mr. RammellUK assistance to the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has increased since UN Security Council Resolution 1279 of November 1999, as exigencies have dictated. Figures for 1999 are not readily available, but available figures from 2001 to UN Security Council Resolution 1493 of July 2003 show that UK commitment to MONUC has:
In monetary terms, increased from £10.7 million in 2001–02 to £18.5 million in 2002–03. In the period after Resolution 1493, i.e. in 2003–04, the UK's monetary contribution amounted to £33.8 million. It is expected to total approximately 28.7 million in 2004–05. These figures are for the UK's assessed contribution to MONUC through the UN only.
In addition to the UK's assessed contribution to MONUC through the UN, the UK also gives additional and voluntary assistance to MONUC's peacekeeping activities. In 2001–02, the UK contributed £588,000 in additional assistance to MONUC, and £669,000 in 2002–03. In the period after Resolution 1493, i.e. in 2003–04, the UK contributed £1.8 million (including 538W £1.1 million to an EU peace support operation). The UK will likely contribute an additional £1 million to the peacekeeping effort in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2004—05.
In terms of manpower, the UK had six officers in MONUC from 2000 to 2003, now reduced to five. The UK currently has live troops serving with MONUC. The UK also contributed a Royal Engineer squadron and two aircraft to the EU peace support operation to DRC (an interim measure lasting from June-September 2003). Also as part of the EU operation, the UK deployed staff to as list in the operation's headquarters in Paris and Entebbe. In total, the UK contributed 120 staff to the operation.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many personnel are authorised to be deployed with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo under UN Security Council Resolution 1493; how many are deployed; and if he will make a statement. [185681]
§ Mr. RammellUN Security Council Resolution 1493 (2003), of 28 July 2003, authorised an increase of the military strength of the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) to 10,800 personnel. As of 31 May 2004 (the most up-to-date figures available), MONUC's military strength stood at 10,715 uniformed personnel.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals(a) he, (b) members of his Department and (c) other members and representatives of the UK Government have made for a UN Security Council Resolution (i) to extend and (ii) to modify the mandate of the United Nations Mission in t he Democratic Republic of Congo; when he expects such a resolution to be passed; and if he will make a statement. [185682]
§ Mr. MullinWe are in regular discussion with the Secretariat of the United Nations about the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC). We await the UN Secretary-General's report and recommendations for the future of MONUC, due on 15 August. We will consider these carefully. We expect a Security Council resolution on MONUC to be passed before the end of September.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has(a) sought and (b) had with (i) his EU member state counterparts, (ii) EU officials, (iii) his US counterpart, (iv) his African Union member state counterparts, (v) UN officials, (vi) other Foreign Ministers and (vii) members of non-governmental organisations concerning the mandate of the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo; what suggestions for change of the mandate were put forward during these meetings; and if he will make a statement. [185684]
§ Mr. MullinI discussed ways to improve the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (MONUC) effectiveness with African leaders and other members of the international community at the African Union Summit on 6 July and also during my visits to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda in June. UK officials have also discussed this with EU 539W partners, US and UN officials. We have received recommendations from NGOs on modifying MONUC's mandate. Possible options include increased troop numbers and a clarification of M ONUC's mandate under Chapter VII. We await the Secretary-General's report and recommendations for the future of MONUC, due on 15 August. We will consider these carefully.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who the five main contributors to the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo are in terms of(a) military observers, (b) military contingent, (c) monetary contribution and (d) contribution in kind; and if he will make a statement. [185685]
§ r. RammellThe five main contributors of Military Observers to the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), as of 31 May 2004 are:
Country Numbers contributed India 33 Kenya and Nigeria 128 Romania, Russia, Tunisia, Uruguay and Mali 127 Pakistan 26 Malawi 24 1Per country. The five main contributors to the MONUC military contingent, as of 31 May 2004 are:
Country Numbers contributed Uruguay 1,800 Bangladesh 1,309 South Africa 1,269 Nepal 1,226 Pakistan 1,066 The five main monetary contributors to MONUC, based on the UN's scale of assessment for July 2004 are:
Country Percentage of costs contributed USA 26.7 Japan 19.5 Germany 8.6 UK 7.4 France 7.3 The information as to amounts of contribution in kind is not readily available. But the main five contributors of civilian police to MONUC, as of 31 May 2004 are:
Country Number contributed Niger 19 Turkey 13 Benin 12 Cote d'Ivoire, France and Serbia and Montenegro 111 Burkina Faso and Mali 110 1 Per country.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made concerning the impact of the540W United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the security situation for civilians in (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. [185686]
§ Mr. RammellThe United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has contributed significantly to an improved security situation throughout the country, including in the east, where it has increased its presence. But there is still work needed to further improve humanitarian agencies' access to vulnerable populations and to help secure the safe return of internally displaced persons (IDPs). MONUC is also working with international donors to establish a functioning police and judicial system.
§ Angus RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of(a) the impact of and (b) which parties are participating in resource exploitation and smuggling to support the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo; and if he will make a statement. [185692]
§ Mr. MullinResource exploitation has been a significant contributing factor to conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The UN Expert Panel reports on the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and Other Forms of Wealth in the DRC, published in 2002 and 2003, provided information linking exploitation and conflict, and named several countries and companies alleged to be involved.
The UK supports initiatives to combat illegal resource extraction such as the Kimberley process and supports international efforts to help the Transitional National Government in the DRC rebuild its capacity to manage its natural resources in an efficient and transparent manner.