HL Deb 20 December 1995 vol 567 cc1606-8

3.16 p.m.

Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action they are taking to ensure that human rights are central to the reconstruction plans for former Yugoslavia.

Lord Chesham

My Lords, the London Conference on 8th and 9th December underlined the relationship between the fulfilment of commitments in the Dayton Peace Agreement. These include observance of the highest standards of human rights and the readiness of the international community to commit financial resources for reconstruction and development. It also created a human rights task force in Sarajevo, to be chaired by the High Representative or his deputy, to bring together the organisations and agencies involved in the implementation of the peace agreement.

Lord Judd

My Lords, does the Minister agree that in view of this important commitment to human rights, conditionality in the availability of aid for reconstruction should be central in our policy towards former Yugoslavia? Can he tell us what benchmarks will be put in place to measure progress towards the fulfilment of human rights and who will have responsibility for monitoring progress? Specifically in terms of the role of the World Bank in the reconstruction, as the World Bank is charged by its articles of agreement to operate on economic criteria alone, what ad hoc arrangements can be made to ensure that it is looking to the fulfilment of human rights too?

Lord Chesham

My Lords, I shall try to cover those points. The new constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina guarantees all the people the highest level of internationally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms as set out in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms. The Dayton agreement creates a commission on human rights to safeguard the rights guaranteed by the constitution. The commission has two parts: an ombudsman and a human rights chamber. I have further details if the noble Lord requires them. The World Bank will be in the lead as regards reconstruction. However, it will be advised by the steering board which will provide political guidance for the World Bank programme. The EU clearly has an important role to play together with the World Bank and with other donors such as the US, the OIC and Japan.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that this is a country in which human rights have never been accepted and honoured except, paradoxically, when there was a communist dictator in the person of Marshal Tito?

Lord Chesham

My Lords, my noble friend may well be right. However, what we are trying to do is to make sure that it has excellent human rights from here on.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, with regard to the prosecution of war criminals, have the complaints of Judge Goldstone regarding the availability of resources and regarding UN bureaucracy obstructing his work been fully resolved? Is he satisfied that the mechanisms of war crimes prosecutions can now proceed rapidly so that all those responsible for atrocities will be brought to court and punished?

Lord Chesham

My Lords, the Government strongly support the tribunal. We believe that those responsible for atrocities should be tried and will be taken to task. We have done more than most. In addition to co-sponsoring the resolution setting up the tribunal, we have given financial support, donated equipment, seconded staff and provided valuable evidence to the prosecutor's office.

Lord Beloff

My Lords, does the Minister not agree that preparatory to having a trial it is necessary to have possession of the accused? Is it not a fact that NATO has been given a very vague assignment as to the arrest of alleged war criminals? Could that assignment be made more precise?

Lord Chesham

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that question. IFOR's prime role is the separation of the forces and monitoring of the military arrangements. However, the North Atlantic Council has authorised IFOR to detain those persons indicted by the War Crimes Tribunal with whom it comes into contact in the execution of its assigned tasks in order to ensure the transfer of those persons to the tribunal.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, the noble Lord mentioned in the course of his answers the role of the High Representative in this matter. Can he make it clear to the House whose High Representative he is, and towards whom or in what company he is the representative? Normally one represents somebody else to a third party or in a third assembly or party.

Lord Chesham

My Lords, I certainly can. The main roles of the High Representative will be to co-ordinate the activities of the organisations involved in civilian aspects of the peace settlement, for example, the OSCE, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Bank. He is also to consult with those heading the NATO operation to ensure the efficient co-ordination of civilian and military efforts. The Dayton agreement provides for joint civilian and military structures.

Lord Judd

My Lords, can the Minister clarify whether aid for reconstruction, both bilateral and multilateral and including that from the World Bank, will be available on the basis of demonstrable progress towards the fulfilment of human rights? If it is to be dependent upon demonstrable progress towards the fulfilment of human rights, how will that be established?

Lord Chesham

My Lords, yes it will be. The World Bank will be advised by the steering board which will advise on the progress towards human rights in respect of political aspects. The World Bank will be required to take that advice into account when funding reconstruction.

The Earl of Sandwich

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the international church agencies met recently in Skopje to discuss reconstruction and that psychological rebuilding is regarded by the Churches as of equal importance? Can the Minister reassure the House that donor governments will give that equal emphasis?

Lord Chesham

Yes, my Lords, I certainly can.