Yugoslavia (Hansard, 26 January 1994)

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest position regarding peace initiatives to bring about a ceasefire in the former Yugoslavia.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The latest round of talks between the parties in Geneva took place on 18 and 19 January. The talks are due to resume on 10 February. All sides violated an agreed ceasefire over the Christmas period. The United Kingdom and our European Union partners remain fully behind the efforts of Lord Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg to bring the parties to a negotiated settlement.

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what deadline has been set for a withdrawal of British troops from the former Yugoslavia.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
There is no deadline for the withdrawal of British troops. No decision has been taken on whether the current British contingent in UNPROFOR will be replaced, and none is imminent. Any such decision would be taken after consultation with our fellow troop contributors and other allies.

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests Her Majesty's Government have received for additional British troops in the former Yugoslavia.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Britain is one of the leading contributors to UNPROFOR, with more than 2,300 troops in the former Yugoslavia. We have not been approached by the United Nations to increase this contribution.

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to date to the Exchequer of British peacekeeping operations in the former Yugoslavia; and to what extent this cost will be reimbursed for the cost from the United Nations.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The United Kingdom share of United Nations assessed contributions to UNPROFOR is likely to total around £36.5 million for this financial year. The United Kingdom pays 6.373 per cent. of peacekeeping costs on the United Nations scale of assessment. The costs fall to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Additional Ministry of Defence costs for United Kingdom participation in UNPROFOR also fall to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. For the financial year 262W 1993–94, this will amount to about £66.79 million, made up of Operation Grapple—Bosnia—£61.87 million; Operation Cheshire—airlift—£4.54 million; Operation Hanwood—the field ambulance which withdrew in September—£381,975. All amounts are net of standard rate of VAT.
The United Nations has paid standard rate reimbursement for troop contributions to UNPROFOR for the period to the end of October 1993, and for nations to the end of September 1993. Refunds for the financial year 1993–94 to date amount to £15.7 million. Troop costs for the month of November 1993 are due to be paid at the end of January 1994. Other claims for reimbursable items of expenditure —for example, vehicles and equipment—have been submitted to the United Nations, and reimbursement will depend on the United Nation's ability to pay.