§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister what evidence he has received, other than from the accounts of Kosovar refugees, of the scale of rape by Serbs of ethnic Albanians. [83176]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 4 May 1999]:By the very nature of the situation in Kosovo, accounts by refugees remain the main source of information about human rights abuses including rape in Kosovo. Certain aid agencies are able to undertake medical checks, when requested by refugees, to corroborate their claims, though many women are understandably reluctant to submit themselves to these. But the consistency of the hundreds of reports by refugees leaving Kosovo in different camps in Macedonia and Albania makes their evidence compelling and credible. We are making every effort to corroborate all reports of atrocities in Kosovo.