HC Deb 16 November 1998 vol 319 cc414-5W
Mr. Austin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the investigations by the International Criminal Tribunal in Kosovo. [59483]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has conducted initial investigations in Kosovo following the announcement in July by Justice Arbour that in her view the conflict there falls within the Tribunal's mandate. Along with our EU Partners we have formally protested to the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia following their recent decision not to issue the necessary visas to Justice Arbour and her officials to enable them to carry out further investigations in Kosovo. We have made it clear to Belgrade that their actions constitute non-compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1160, 1199 and 1203. We are supporting the adoption of a new UN Security Council Resolution demanding the full cooperation of the Federal Authorities with the ICTY. A draft resolution is currently being discussed in New York.

Mr. Trend

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assessment the Government have made of the compatibility of the Federal Government of Yugoslavia's refusal to grant a visa to the Chief Prosecutor of the UN War Crimes Tribunal with(a) the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 1199 and (b) other UN Security Council resolutions; and if he will make a statement; [59650]

(2) what representations the Government have made, through the UN, concerning the refusal of the authorities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to allow the Chief Prosecutor of the UN War Crimes Tribunal to investigate alleged Serbian atrocities in Kosovo. [59649]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

Along with our EU Partners we have formally protested to the FRY Authorities following their recent decision not to issue the necessary visas to Justice Arbour and her officials to enable them to carry out further investigations in Kosovo. We have made it clear to Belgrade that we view their actions as non-compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions 1160, 1199 and 1203. We are also supporting the adoption of a new UN Security Council Resolution demanding the full cooperation of the FRY Authorities with the ICTY. A draft resolution is currently being discussed in New York.