§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made to ensure the withdrawal from Bosnia-Herzegovina of Mujahedden fighters in accordance with the peace accord. [10287]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorUnder the terms of the Bosnia peace agreement, the deadline for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Bosnia expired on 13 January. NATO has reported general compliance, although some individuals remain in theatre. Efforts to ensure full compliance continue.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protests he has made to the Croatian Government about the expulsion and harassment of ethnic Serbs in the Krajina; what the Croat response has been; and what further communication he has had with the Croatian Government about the situation in the Krajina. [10291]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorFollowing the Croatian offensive in the Krajina in August 1995, we joined EU partners in condemning the action and calling for the refugees who fled to be allowed to return. The EU also suspended negotiations on a trade and co-operation agreement and the PHARE programme. Since then, we have supported the UN Security Council statement condemning continued Croatian human rights abuses in the area. We have made it clear to the Croatian Government that there is no prospect of their developing a close relationship with the EU while the treatment of minorities in Croatia continues to cause concern. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made these points personally to President Tudjman during his visit in September.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken by the UN war crimes tribunal to bring to justice Croats alleged to have committed war crimes in the Krajina. [10290]
§ Sir Nicholas BonsorThe tribunal does not comment on operational aspects of its investigations. However, its mandate is to investigate those accused of war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, regardless of ethnic origin.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has in respect of relations between the Muslims and Croats in Bogojono in central Bosnia; and what problems IFOR forces have meet in implementing the peace accord in that area. [10292]
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§ Sir Nicholas BonsorBugojno is one of the towns included in a small programme agreed at Dayton for the return of a limited number of displaced persons to their places of origin. Two hundred Bosnian Croat families were to return to Bugojno. The majority have yet to do so.
IFOR has not reported encountering any serious problems in implementing the peace agreement in the area around Bugojno.