§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to address the current problems in Kosovo; and what co-operation it has sought from other EU and European countries on this issue. [46055]
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§ Mr. Tony LloydThe UK has taken a leading role in coordinating international efforts to promote a peaceful resolution to the problems in Kosovo, both as a member of the Contact Group and as EU Presidency. With our European partners, we have taken a number of steps to register our concern at the gravity of the situation and to persuade the government in Belgrade to offer a meaningful political process to the Kosovar Albanian leadership, rather than to continue violent repression. Most recently, the European Council in Cardiff on 15 June agreed to take steps to impose a ban on flights by Yugoslav carriers between the FRY and EU member states. The UK has also been active in the contingency military planning taking place in NATO, and at the UN has proposed a Chapter VII resolution designed to meet the threat to regional security and stability. British aircraft also took part in a NATO exercise on 15 June designed to demonstrate NATO's ability to project airpower rapidly into the area.