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Lusaka And Pretoria Agreements

Volume 404: debated on Monday 28 April 2003

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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions (a) he and (b) his Department has had with the Governments of (i) Rwanda, (ii) Burundi, (iii) Uganda, (iv) the Democratic Republic of Congo and (v) the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo regarding (A) the implementation of the Lusaka Ceasefire and Pretoria agreements and (B) recent developments in the Ituri region. [109226]

FCO officials have regular discussions with all regional Governments listed and with the UN (both in New York and in the Great Lakes region) about the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the implementation of the Lusaka and Pretoria Agreements. We warmly welcomed the agreement signed in Sun City on 2 April on the establishment of a transitional government with a view to democratic elections in two years time. This concluded the Inter-Congolese Dialogue provided for under the Lusaka Agreement. We will continue to be involved in the peace process as members of the International Committee for Support to the Transition.We were shocked to learn of the appalling massacre of civilians by militia in the DRC's Ituri Province on 3 April. My noble Friend, the Baroness Amos, issued a statement on 7 April strongly condemning this tragedy. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. We are concerned about the effect of the situation in Ituri on relations between Rwanda and Uganda. We have urged Rwanda and Uganda to exercise restraint and not to become engaged in direct confrontation on Congolese soil.