§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions took place at the meeting of the EC Foreign Ministers on 19 July regarding economic and diplomatic sanctions against the Republic of Croatia; what proposals on this issue were tabled by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggForeign Ministers of the European Community agreed in Brussels on 19 July to consider withdrawing Croatia's preferential trading benefits with the European Community, in view of Croatia's continued involvement in the conflict in Bosnia. Croatia will have to change its ways if it wishes to have the kind of relationship that it seeks with the European Community.
§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will expel the Croatian ambassador to London and recall Her Majesty's ambassador to Zagreb in protest at the Croatian Government's support for the Bosnian-Croat regime.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggSuch measures are not under consideration. But as Heads of Government made clear at the Group of Seven economic summit in Tokyo, the Croats and the Serbs risk placing themselves beyond the pale of the international community and stronger measures cannot be excluded. European Community566W Foreign Ministers also agreed in Brussels on 19 July to consider the withdrawal of Croatia's preferential trading benefits with the European Community, in view of Croatia's continued involvement in the conflict in Bosnia.
§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of conditions at Fojnica children's hospital in central Bosnia; how many children were found abandoned in the hospital; how many children have either died or are in a critical condition; what representations Her Majesty's Government plan to make to Alija Izetbegovic concerning the actions of his forces at Fojnica; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe share the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' concern about the desperate plight of the patients in the hospital in Fojnica. This is a further example of how innocent civilians have suffered as a result of the conflict in Bosnia. We have repeatedly urged all parties to respect the rights and interests of civilians.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the relationship between United Nations Security Council resolution 820 and World Health Organisation resolutions 41.31 and 42.24; what restrictions there are on the importation of medicines and medical equipment into the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggUnited Nations Security Council resolution 820 is fully compatible with the terms of the World Health Assembly resolutions 41.31 and 42.24. Medical supplies and foodstuffs are specifically exempted from the sanctions imposed on Serbia and Montenegro under United Nations Security Council resolution 820.
Supplies intended strictly for medical purposes are permitted to enter Serbia and Montenegro under United Nations Security Council resolutions 757 and 820 following notification to the Sanctions Committee established pursuant to resolution 724.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the effect on the economy of(a) Romania and (b) Hungary of the economic sanctions applied against the former Yugoslavia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe economies of Romania, Hungary and other neighbouring countries have suffered damage from sanctions against former Yugoslavia. It is difficult to quantify this, particularly given the problem of isolating the effects of sanctions from the other factors influencing these economies. In our view, the international financial institutions, especially the International Monetary Fund, are the best placed to make this assessment. This they are already doing as part of their regular activities and programmes with these countries. We have been active in encouraging the IMF's efforts in this area.
We have also strongly supported action by the Yugoslav Sanctions Committee under the provisions of article 50 of the United Nations charter. The Committee, and subsequently the Security Council, has endorsed Romanian, Hungarian and other requests for assistance under article 50. Their recommendations have included a request that the international financial institutions be invited to consider how their assistance programmes and facilities might be helpful to affected states.
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§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the total number of detainees in Bosnia-Herzegovina held in(a) Serbian prisons or camps, (b) Muslim prisons or camps and (c) Croat prisons or camps; and what is his estimate in each case of the number of detainees who are civilians.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regularly visits 1,098 prisoners held by Bosnian Serbs in detention camps in Bosnia, 951 held by Bosnian Muslims and 398 held by Bosnian Croats. No figures are available as to how many of these are civilians.
§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees regarding the establishment by Bosnian-Croat forces of a detention camp for Muslim males at the Mostar heliodrome; how many are estimated to be detained; what requests have so far been made to visit these prisoners by UNHCR or the International Committee of the Red Cross; what response such requests have had; and if he will publish the reports he has received regarding this detention camp; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have received no reports on this centre from UNHCR. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regularly visits 15 prisoners held by the Bosnian-Croats in a detention centre at Mostar Rodoc, but we have received no details of ICRC's findings, in accordance with its rules over confidentiality.
§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the total number of prisons and camps currently operating in Bosnia-Herzegovina; how many are under the control of(a) Muslims, (b) Croats and (c) Serbs; and to how many such camps or prisons in each case international organisations have been denied access.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regularly visits six places of detention under the control of Bosnian Croats: 15 places of detention under the control of Bosnian Muslims; and 13 places of detention under the control of Bosnian Serbs. ICRC suspect that further places of detention in unknown locations may exist.