(2) what steps she is taking to facilitate Stage 3 of the agreement between the government of Sudan and the United Nations; and if she will make a statement.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary chaired an informal meeting of the UN Security Council on 16 April which welcomed the Sudanese Government’s agreement to the UN’s Heavy Support Package (the second stage of the agreement between the UN and the Government of Sudan). We are pressing them to agree to a joint African Union (AU)/UN Hybrid Force (the third stage). If the Sudanese Government and rebels do not co-operate, we will move to tougher sanctions.
We have seconded staff into the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations and are supporting their work through political lobbying. We are also a major contributor to the AU Mission in Sudan to keep it going until a joint AU/UN Hybrid Force can be deployed.