§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why French troops, part of KFOR, prevented local miners from inspecting and if possible restarting production of the Trepca mine in Kosovo; and what is the current situation there. [HL446]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalUNMIK has judged that the Trepca mines are under public ownership and thus under UNMIK's jurisdiction. It is therefore a matter for UNMIK (supported by KFOR) to decide on the most appropriate method of assessing the potential of the mines and to decide how, if and when they should reopen.
An agreement signed earlier this month will allow 200 Albanian miners to return to the Stari Trg mine, part of the Trepca complex, to carry out a six-week assessment. A dozen Serbs who have been maintaining the mine will continue to work there.