Former Yugoslavia: Refugees (Hansard, 19 January 1993)

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, the possibility of unrest and of refugee crises in Kosovo and Macedonia is of major concern. Missions from the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe are in both areas and a UN peacekeeping presence has already been deployed in Macedonia. The aim is to increase political stability and minimise the risk of conflict.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, I am most grateful to the Minister for giving us that reply. Does she agree that in the former Yugoslavia it is not so much a war but more a massive slaughter of the innocents? I do not believe that there has been anything like it in European history. The Kosovo Albanians, for example, are not allowed to have jobs, are denied the use of their own language and may be subject to ethnic cleansing. Bearing in mind that many of the crimes committed are crimes against humanity, will the Minister tell us what progress there has been towards enabling the International Law Commission create an international criminal court? Does she agree that if we had an international criminal court many of these matters could be brought to the attention of more nations than is possible at the moment, and would help to prevent this appalling situation?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, with the greatest respect, I wonder whether the noble Lord, Lord Molloy, would care to ask that same question during the next Question.

§ Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn
My Lords, does my noble friend agree that it is Serbian aggression, above all, which is likely to create refugees, and that only the threat, and, if necessary, the application, of firm sanctions is likely to deter such aggression? Does she agree that it was only the threat of such firm sanctions that allowed real progress to be made at the recent Geneva talks?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, the answer to my noble friend's first supplementary question is, basically, yes; but aggression can come from many sources. In answer to his second point, UN Security Council Resolution 787 of 16th November tightens the existing sanctions regime and allows the stop and search of all suspect vessels in the Adriatic and on the 808 Danube. It also clamps down on the transhipment of strategic goods through Serbia and Montenegro and is already having a marked impact on the Serbian economy.
With regard to the last part of my noble friend's supplementary question, we welcome the acceptance by Yugoslav President Cosic and Serbian President Milosevic of the Owen/Vance proposals and their work in influencing Karadzic also to accept them. Their compliance with the peace proposals will be judged by the influence that they continue to exercise.

§ Lord Bonham-Carter
My Lords, does the Minister regard the Asylum Bill as an adequate response to the crisis?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, I do not believe that that has anything to do with this Question.

§ Lord Bonham-Carter
My Lords, the Minister should read the Question. It refers specifically to a refugee crisis. The Asylum Bill deals with refugees. The question therefore seems to me to be wholly relevant.

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, perhaps I can give HMG's policy on refugees. Those who express a fear of returning home will continue to he sympathetically considered in line with the UNHCR call on governments to provide temporary protection to those fleeing the former Yugoslavia. No one from the conflict area in the former Yugoslavia, whether or not they apply for asylum, will be forced to return.

§ Lord Taylor of Gryfe
My Lords, will the Minister acknowledge the debt we owe to the noble Lord, Lord Owen, and Cyrus Vance for their painstaking efforts to achieve some stability in the region?

§ Baroness Trumpington
Gladly, my Lords.

§ Lord Renton
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that for this country to announce that it is willing to accept large numbers of refugees would merely play into the hands of the oppressor in Yugoslavia?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, this country has a proud record as regards refugees. It would be wrong to turn away anybody wishing to leave their country, whether they applied for citizenship or merely for asylum.

§ Lord Richard
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the way to prevent refugees from Kosova and Macedonia is to achieve a political settlement to the problems as a whole? When do the Government expect to hear the result of the decision being taken by the so-called Serbian parliament?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, the agreement was that we should hear within a week. We are awaiting that decision.

§ Lord Chalfont
My Lords, in the light of the Minister's reference to peacekeeping forces does she accept that many people who have studied the situation closely are worried because there does not appear to be a great deal of coherent strategic policy behind our handling of the various crises? Does she 809 also agree that, if we are to continue to contribute to the military forces which are intervening in the various crises, we should again review our defence policy?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, the noble Lord's question is wide of that on the Order Paper. Foreign military action would not solve the underlying political problems. The situation in Bosnia is not comparable with an invasion by a foreign military power. It has many aspects of a civil war.

§ Lord Chalfont
My Lords, does the Minister agree that that is precisely the question I asked? There are British forces in the former Yugoslavia and my question related largely to them and to our intervention in other areas.

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, the Question on the Order Paper refers to the refugee crisis and whether it will spill over into other areas. It has nothing to do with military forces.

§ Lord Mackie of Benshie
My Lords, the Question also contains the words: and if so what steps they are taking to prevent it". Is it not true that if the firm measures, including the threat of military force, had been applied originally the tragedy in Sarajevo would have been prevented? Does the Minister agree that as a signal to the Serbs firmness of purpose is more important than anything else?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, what we must do now is deal with the situation that is facing us. The noble Lord, Lord Owen, and Mr. Cyrus Vance are doing their best to resolve that situation.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the argument about Macedonia relates merely to the name that the area will have? People are being killed over that argument. Does the Minister agree with Mr. Malcolm Rifkind that the efforts of British troops in those areas have been magnificent? May we put on record our appreciation of those fine efforts? Does the Minister agree that the Government must push ahead with the Americans to try to stop the awful slaughter and match the endeavours of British troops in order to help all the people who are suffering so abominably?

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, we discussed the issue of Macedonia prior to Christmas. Our policy remains as stated in the Lisbon Declaration of June 1992. It was then agreed that the signatories were ready to recognise the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia under any name which did not include the word "Macedonia". I repeat that the Question does not refer to military forces. However, I am glad to be able to pay tribute to what our troops are doing in a peacemaking role.