Written question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 December 2009.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the final report of the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo, stating that they did not receive co-operation from the United Kingdom Government in identifying telephone numbers in contact with the Rwandan Liberation Democratic Forces military satellite telephones.

Answer: The UK welcomes the Group of Experts report, and the thorough research that went into it. Where it has been legally and practically possible to do so, the UK has shared information on the activities of militia groups as requested by the Group of Experts and will continue to co-operate in this way. We have also provided assistance on the ground in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to members of the group. On the telephone numbers in question, we forwarded the request for information to the police, who passed it on to the War Crimes Unit. This process has proven to be a lengthy one and we continue to press for a response. The UK takes its obligations under the DRC sanctions regime very seriously and will not hesitate to support sanctions against any person or company against whom there is sufficient evidence. That could of course include UK-based companies or individuals.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 555; 715 c234WA
Session: 2009-10
Subjects: Disclosure of information Armed conflict Arms trade United Nations Telephones Sanctions Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk