HL Deb 18 December 1995 vol 567 c122WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will, either at the next international meeting about arrangements in ex-Yugoslavia or when the UN Security Council considers the Dayton-Elysee proposals, ensure that, if it is agreed that the arms embargoes are to be lifted, a proper long-term arms control arrangement is established for the various successor states (including the new "Serb Republic" to be included in "Bosnia"), and that this arms control body is under appropriate UN or Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe direction.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The British Government are fully committed to the achievement of an effective arms control regime in former Yugoslavia. The Bosnia Peace Agreement provides for the arms embargo to be fully lifted 180 days after the signature of the Agreement. Within that period the Parties will negotiate, under the auspices of the OSCE, an arms control regime designed to achieve balanced and stable defence force levels. Should the Parties fail to agree such a regime, automatic limits on equipment holdings based on ratios agreed at Dayton will come into effect.