HL Deb 06 March 1996 vol 570 cc21-2WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Dayton Accords stipulated that, if no agreement were reached on Sub-Regional Arms Control by a certain date, arrangements such as those for training and equipping the Bosnians Muslim forces could go ahead, and what information they have concerning arrangements by others for training and equipping Bosnian Orthodox or Catholic forces.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The Dayton Agreement permits training of Bosnian forces to begin at any time. Non-lethal equipment and light arms may be supplied to them after March 14th; heavy equipment may be supplied after June 12th. The types and quantities of equipment which the parties may hold will be governed by the outcome of the negotiations on sub-regional arms control under Article IV of the Dayton Agreement. In the absence of agreement by June 6th, the ratios laid down in Article IV governing the holding of certain categories of heavy equipment will come into effect.

The US-led equip and train programme, which will be directed at the Bosniac-Croat Federation, is the only such programme of which we are aware.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any of the European NATO allies welcome the United States intention to organise the training and arming of the Bosnian Muslim forces and to have this done in Turkey.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

We cannot answer for members of NATO on this subject.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether arrangements between the United States and the then Turkish Government, and between the then Turkish and the Bosnian Governments, concerning the American project to equip and train the Bosnian armed forces in Turkey have been discussed and approved within NATO, and if not why not, given the responsibilities that NATO has undertaken in Bosnia.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

The US project to equip and train forces of the Bosniac-Croat Federation will be entirely separate from NATO and the responsibilities of the NATO-led Implementation Force. NATO approval is therefore not needed.