Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I can definitely do that. Thank you very much.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Certainly the human rights obligations of corporations in international law are a little bit murky, to say the least, so certainly guiding principles like that set are a step in the right direction. But I guess we do feel ultimately that it is up to states to ensure that corporate entities that are operating within their borders are complying with some of these big-picture, overarching principles.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  I find that to be an absolutely incredible statement. Certainly Eritrea doesn't exactly dominate the headlines, because it's a small country and because there is no independent media, as we talked about. But it is not hard to find out about the human rights situation in Eritrea, and if you're going to be making a major, major investment in a country, I think you would do a bit of background research.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Yes. I agree completely, which again is why companies need to develop these processes before they go in, because, as you say, they do have a lot of leverage. They are cash-rich. But once the mine is operational, it's much, much more difficult. The position that Nevsun is in now is a difficult one, because a lot of that leverage is gone.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We haven't done any research into the religious intolerance issue. I imagine it also stems from the religions that were in place when Eritrea became a country. But beyond that, I'm not really sure.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We're in the process of doing some research on that issue. It's an issue of huge concern. Many individuals leaving Eritrea, fleeing across the border, are being picked up in some of the refugee camps on the Sudan side of the border. Some are paying to be trafficked, and others are paying to be transferred, largely to Israel.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  As I mentioned, we're doing some research on it, and hopefully in the next few months we'll be able to answer those questions with much more accuracy and precision. But as far as we understand, yes, it is primarily Eritreans who are making it across into Israel.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We don't have any additional information on their CSR initiatives beyond what they've shared with us or with this committee. Some of the utterances of Nevsun about the lack of ability they have to engage with the Government of Eritrea and to engage with their subcontractor would set off some alarm bells for me in terms of those CSR numbers.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Certainly, if you're going to do business with a dictator, it's going to be very challenging. What we'd like to see.... As I mentioned, Nevsun and other Canadian companies have a lot of leverage. Eritrea is financially desperate right now. They have no capacity to develop these mining sites themselves.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We would certainly like to see Canada have the legal right to monitor the operations of a company such as Nevsun or any company that's working in a repressive environment such as Eritrea's, at an absolute minimum. We'd also like to see Canada have the ability to regulate those companies and their human rights performance to ensure that Canadian companies abroad are falling in line with what we would expect here in Canada.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  That's a difficult question. We don't know a lot about how that sort of business arrangement was arrived at and what sort of leverage Nevsun had prior to going into business with the Government of Eritrea. But certainly, as I mentioned earlier, being in a relationship with a repressive government limits your ability to bring about some positive change.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We don't have too many details, unfortunately, about this latest screening process that Nevsun is undertaking. Certainly, if you're not allowed access to the individuals who supposedly have these demobilization certificates to interview them openly, confidentially, etc., there are lots of opportunities for misuse of those certificates and what they're supposed to represent.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  They've developed two separate sites. From what I understand, they're beginning production in the next one or two years, I can't recall, but they're on the verge of developing their mine sites. From what we understand, there are also numerous other mineral development opportunities that different firms in Canada and elsewhere are exploring.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  Within the boundaries of Eritrea, yes; Eritrea is very rich in gold, copper, zinc, potash, etc.

Subcommittee on International Human Rights committee  We base our conclusions on very little information, like everyone else. But from what we understand, yes, the power is very highly concentrated in the president.