To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) reports that Eritrea is arming and supporting Islamic insurgents within Somalia and (b) Eritrea’s observance of UN resolutions on Somalia. (279785)

[holding answer 15 June 2009]: We are concerned by reports that Eritrea has supplied weapons to insurgent groups in Somalia in contravention to UN Security Council Resolution 733 (1992) on Somalia.

We believe that the issue should be dealt with through existing UN mechanisms and urge any evidence be presented to the UN Sanctions Committee. The UN Sanctions Monitoring Group is due to present its findings on this issue in the coming weeks.

We continue to support the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia and deplore any attempts to disrupt the reconciliation process and undermine efforts towards peace and stability in the country.