§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what circumstances her Majesty's Government will agree to the imposition of sanctions against the republic of Croatia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will consult EC Foreign Ministers with a view to the imposition of full economic and diplomatic sanctions against the republic of Croatia;
(2) what effect action by the Croatian army against neighbouring states will have on diplomatic recognition and economic assistance to the republic of Croatia;
(3) if Her Majesty's Government will sponsor a United Nations Security Council resolution leading to full economic and diplomatic sanctions against the republic of Croatia forthwith; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggEuropean Community Foreign Ministers agreed on 19 July to consider the withdrawal of Croatia's preferential trade benefits with the Community in the light of Croatia's involvement in the conflict in Bosnia. Further measures against Croatia have not been ruled out, but are not at present under consideration.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received from the United Nations of the presence of brigades of the regular Croatian army in the republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina; and whether such action will be treated as aggression by one state against another for the purpose of United Nations rules.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThere is evidence that Croatian Government forces are engaged in the conflict in Bosnia. European Community Foreign Ministers agreed on 19 July to consider the withdrawal of Croatian preferential trade benefits with the Community in the light of Croatia's involvement in the conflict in Bosnia.
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§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise with the German Foreign Minister the question of future sanctions against Croatia; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discussed Croatia with Herr Kinkel on 15 July as well as during the meeting of EC Foreign Ministers in Brussels on 19 July. The subject is likely to arise again when he is next in touch with Herr Kinkel.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent to which the republic of Croatia has met the requirements set by the London conference; and what steps Her Majesty's Government intend to take to ensure that these obligations are met.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI refer my hon. Friend the Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave the hon. Member for Liverpool, West Derby, (Mr. Wareing) on 16 July,Official Report, column 688.
§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations were made by Herr Klaus Kinkel, German Foreign Minister, at the EC meeting of Foreign Ministers on 19 July in relation to Croatia and economic and diplomatic sanctions.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe question whether to withdraw the preferential trading benefits that Croatia enjoys with the European Community was discussed by all Foreign Ministers, including Herr Kinkel. It was agreed to consider the withdrawal of these benefits in the light of Croatian Government involvement in the fighting in Bosnia.
§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Croatian Government regarding the deportation by Bosnian-Croat forces of Bosnian Muslims to third nations.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNo specific representations have been made. We have made repeatedly clear to the Croatian Government that they must use their influence with the Bosnian Croats to press for an end to the fighting and to prevent further atrocities, including forced movement of populations.
§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans Her Majesty's Government have made to take action against the republic of Croatia in the event of its continuing aggression against Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if Her Majesty's Government will oppose the imposition of sanctions against the republic of Croatia in the absence of a change of policy by the Croatian Government towards Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Bosnian Croats; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe international community continues to watch closely for further evidence of the involvement of Croatian Government forces in the fighting in Bosnia. Our policy will continue to be influenced by such reports. As Heads of Government at the Group of Seven summit in Tokyo on 7 to 9 July made clear, stronger measures against Croatia and Serbia cannot be excluded.
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§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to summon the Croatian ambassador or to send a demand to Zagreb in respect of Croatian army invasion of a neighbouring sovereign state.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have repeatedly raised with the Croatian authorities their involvement in the conflict in Bosnia, most recently on 21 July, when the Belgian Foreign Minister, Mr. Claes, as European Community President, saw President Tudjman in Zagreb.
§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has had from UN sources on joint action by Croatian Government and Bosnian Croat forces to displace Bosnian Muslims from around Mostar and the establishment of transit camps: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThere is evidence that Croatian Government forces are providing active support in Bosnia for the Bosnian Croat forces, including in the Mostar area.
§ 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 possible assistance by the Croatian Government in the forced deportation of Bosnian Muslims from Bosnia-Herzegovina; what requests have been made by Bosnian-Croat and Croatian Government officials to the UNHCR requesting assistance facilitating the deportation of Muslims from Bosnia-Herzegovina; and if he will publish the UNHCR's response.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggNo reports have been received from the UNHCR to date. But the UNHCR has undertaken to write to Her Majesty's Government detailing any such requests she has received. A copy of their letter will be placed in the Library of the House.