To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the governments of (a) Uganda, (b) Rwanda and (c) Burundi on compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1807 for the Democratic Republic of Congo. (246295)

We have encouraged the governments of Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda to exert tighter controls over their borders to prevent the illegal trade of natural resources and weapons. In particular, we have called on the government of Rwanda to take steps to deter the recruitment activities of illegal armed groups from eastern DRC within their territory. We have called upon the government of Burundi to respond constructively to requests by the UN Group of Experts, which is mandated under UN Security Council Resolution 1870 to investigate the means by which illegal armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo receive funding, weapons and other support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Rwanda following the report on 12 December 2008 by the UN panel of experts (S/2008/773), on that report's allegation that the Rwandan government is supporting the rebel group National Congress for the Defence of the People in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and if he will make a statement. (246296)

We are committed to help bring about a peaceful solution to the violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and have urged the Rwandan authorities to take a constructive approach to dealing with illegal militias and to curtail support for them from within Rwanda. We continue to press both the Rwandan and DRC governments at the highest levels to respond constructively to the UN Group of Experts’ recommendations.