§ 4. Dr. Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde)If he discussed matters relating to the UN administration of Kosovo when he last met his colleagues representing other member states of NATO. [154090]
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Keith Vaz)My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed matters relating to Kosovo with his NATO counterparts at a North Atlantic Council ministerial meeting on 27 February. Hans Haekkerup, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo, briefed the North Atlantic Council on the work of UNMIK—the United Nations Mission in Kosovo—on 28 February.
We fully support Mr. Haekkerup's efforts to ensure the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1244. We welcome the priorities that he has set, namely the establishment of a legal framework for provisional institutions for Kosovo, law and order and economic reconstruction. We also welcome his efforts to establish regular dialogue with the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will make a statement on Macedonia at 3.30 pm.
§ Dr. GodmanMaintaining law and order in Kosovo is an immensely difficult task: everyone knows that. Am I right in thinking that KFOR is largely a European force, and a highly trained one at that? By contrast, the UN's international police force is composed of officers from 66 countries, many of whom, regrettably, are poorly trained. When did the Minister last raise at the UN the problems caused by this ill—equipped police force? There are some first—class officers in Kosovo, but many officers are not up to it.
§ Mr. VazI understand my hon. Friend's concerns. Having just visited the area, he knows the seriousness and the difficulties of the situation. We believe, however, that things are improving. We continue to raise these matters at the UN, and in every forum that we have at our 804 disposal, because we believe that to be the best way of ensuring that there is a lasting legal framework that people respect.
Law and order is clearly a crucial issue. My hon. Friend will note that the murder rate has gone down dramatically over the last year The British Government make a contribution to both forces and will continue to do so, but ultimately it is about building confidence between the communities. Unless and until we do that, we will never obtain a lasting settlement of the problems in the Balkans.
§ Dr. Julian Lewis (New Forest, East)I have just returned from a visit to Kosovo with the Select Committee on Defence, and I was immensely impressed by the work that our troops are doing there; but can the Minister give us any guidance on the Government's exit strategy for our troops deployed in Kosovo?
§ Mr. VazWe will continue to be involved in trying to win the peace, as we have been throughout the past few years. The hon. Gentleman has just visited the area, and I would be keen to look at the report that he and his Committee will publish as a result of that visit. He knows that these are agonisingly difficult problems. The way to deal with the situation is, as I have just said, to build confidence between the communities. It would not be appropriate or right to talk about exit strategies. We are there to support the restoration of law and order, and to provide the necessary forces to ensure that there will be peace and security for the people of Kosovo.
§ Mr. Mike Gapes (Ilford, South)I, too, was in Kosovo last week with the Defence Committee. Will my hon. Friend congratulate the British forces—the 1st Battalion, the Duke of Wellington's Regiment and the other forces—that are doing such a vital job there? Is he aware that, unfortunately, a lot of their time is at present devoted to defending the lives .and protecting the religious property of the very few—only 300—Serbs remaining in Pristina? Is it not vital, given that that conflict was fought to preserve a multi-ethnic Kosovo and Serbia, to send the message firmly and clearly to Albania, to the groups in the Presevo valley and in Macedonia lind to the Kosovar Albanians, that the international community will not tolerate any moves towards single ethnicity in the Balkans?
§ Mr. VazI thank my hon. Friend for his kind comments about the British forces. I shall certainly pass them on to the Secretary of State for Defence. My hon. Friend's message is a powerful one, which we should heed, especially at these difficult times in tho Balkans. What has happened there is a tragedy. Our role is to do exactly as my hon. Friend has suggested: to ensure that the message of multi-ethnicity is one that every country in the Balkans understands. This is the best way in which the communities themselves can work together. We have a proud record in the Balkans. We will also maintain our proud record of trying to ensure that the communities work together, and I thank my hon. Friend for his comments.