Bosnia (Hansard, 12 January 1998)

§ 8. Mr. Winnick
How many troops are currently serving as part of Britain's contribution to SFOR in Bosnia. [20203]

§ Mr. George Robertson
We currently contribute some 5,200 troops in the former Yugoslavia as part of the stabilisation force. About 3,500 of those are based in Bosnia and the rest, some 1,700, are based in Croatia.

§ Mr. Winnick
I again pay tribute to all those forces, including the British contribution, serving in the former Yugoslavia. In view of the acute dangers—and I believe that they are acute—of killings occurring yet again, especially in Bosnia, would it be possible for a decision soon to be reached on extending the time frame beyond June for troops serving in the former Yugoslavia? Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us very much welcomed President Clinton's suggestion that such a decision is likely to be made?

§ Mr. Robertson
First, I thank my hon. Friend for his tribute to the forces, especially the British forces, which are serving in the former Yugoslavia. They are doing a job that is now largely out of the headlines but that is heroic and incredibly dedicated. We should all be very proud of what they are doing and what they are achieving.
My hon. Friend is also right to say that, although there have been big improvements and much progress has been made, there have been signs that, if the effort were to be diminished or the NATO-led force were to leave, there would be a return to some of the worst excesses that we have seen. That is why, at the NATO meetings at the end of last year, NATO Defence and Foreign Ministers put in place the necessary planning, without a commitment for a continuing follow-on force.
I, too, was extremely glad that President Clinton made it clear that American ground troops will be in Bosnia after June 1998. I believe that, as long as the force there is NATO-led, commanded and controlled, and as long as 11 we have the most appropriate force configuration for the situation applying there, we can bring some further lights of hope to the ordinary people of that benighted country.

§ Mr. Wilkinson
Can the right hon. Gentleman ensure that his Department's responsible planning for the continued presence of British troops in the NATO-led stabilisation force in Bosnia beyond June will not be vitiated by the outcome of the strategic defence review? Can he make quite certain that the strategic defence review will enable the United Kingdom always to maintain the capacity to keep in the field two operational forces of significant status and size—for example, in Northern Ireland and in Bosnia?

§ Mr. Robertson
The hon. Gentleman is asking me to pre-empt the outcome of the strategic defence review, but I will not be drawn on that matter. However, I see no likelihood of the strategic defence review affecting our commitments to Northern Ireland and to Bosnia. Our commitment to Bosnia-Herzogovina is to pursue the principles that were agreed at Dayton and that were re-emphasised, in 1996, at Lancaster house. We are interested, first, in the welfare of the people of Bosnia-Herzogovina; secondly, in creating a multi-ethnic nation in that part of the world; and, thirdly, in ensuring that any violence in that area is contained within it and does not spread to the surrounding region. That remains a priority of this Government, as it was of the previous Government. I foresee no likelihood of any change to that commitment or to the dedication of our forces in pursuing it.

§ Laura Moffatt
Does the Secretary of State agree—I know that he, like members of the Defence Select Committee, has visited Bosnia—that the best indicator of the job done by our forces there is the fact that they do that job with professionalism, enthusiasm and complete good grace? They believe that the job that they are doing is worth while and that it is very important that they stay there.

§ Mr. Robertson
I welcome my hon. Friend's comments, and I warmly welcome the Defence Select Committee's report on Bosnia. The report was produced very quickly, yet it contained some profound comments and recommendations. We are giving full consideration to those conclusions and recommendations, and we shall be providing a response in due course. The report underlined the commitment, dedication and practical application of British troops in Bosnia, and it showed just how much our troops have achieved in the period that we have been there and how critical their role will be in the future.

§ Sir George Young
I endorse the comments made by hon. Members from both sides of the House on the work of our troops in Bosnia and the Secretary of State's comment on President Clinton's recent decision. As we approach the end of the financial year, can the Secretary of State say whether the costs of our operations in Bosnia will be borne, as previously, as a charge on the reserves, or whether he will have to find that very substantial sum from his own depleted resources?

§ Mr. Robertson
When the costs are finally established, the Ministry of Defence, as has been the practice, will 12 determine how much of the costs can be absorbed within its budget. If there is a difference between what can be absorbed and the cost—[interruption.] Is that sudden illumination of the Chamber light at the end of the tunnel for the Government or for the Opposition? As and when we reach that point, clearly discussions will then commence with the Treasury.