HC Deb 11 June 1993 vol 226 cc383-4W
Mr. Bowden

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to press for the suspension from the Council of Europe of any member state found to be violating the United Nations embargo against Serbia and Montenegro.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

At their meeting on 14 May, which was chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Council of Europe Ministers underlined the importance of respecting and implementing the United Nations Security Council resolutions on the former Yugoslavia, including those imposing embargoes.

If proof were available that any member state actively supported violations of United Nations embargoes, that support would be condemned rightly in all international fora. However, the Council of Europe is not one of those organisations directly involved in this matter and any action might be more appropriately considered by those bodies which have such involvement.

I am aware that members of the United Kingdom parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe have expressed strong views about the violation of international sanctions. It is open to those members to raise these matters in the assembly.

Lady Olga Maitland

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the latest estimate of prisoners of war held by(a) the Croats, (b) Serbs and (c) Muslims.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The International Committee of the Red Cross—ICRC—regularly visits 400 prisoners held by the Bosnian Croats, 1,023 held by the Bosnian Serbs and 993 held by the Bosnian Muslims. The ICRC is also visiting those detained during the fighting between Bosnian Croat and Muslim forces in central and southern Bosnia.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if his Department is in receipt of information from the UNHCR in respect of the reported expulsion by the Croatian HVO forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina of Muslims from Mostar; what contact he has made with President Tudjman about this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

We are aware of reports that Bosnian Croat HVO forces apparently with support from Croatian Government forces, have expelled Muslims from Mostar, but have seen no specific information on this from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. The European Community is continuing to apply pressure on President Tudjman about his responsibility for the actions of Croat and Bosnian Croat forces in Bosnia.

Lady Olga Maitland

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken for UNPROFOR to protect the citizens of Medjeda and Ustipraca in Bosnia from Serb shelling.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The co-chairman of the international conference for the former Yugoslavia and UNPROFOR commanders are continuing their efforts to secure Bosnian Serb agreement to allow United Nations monitors and humanitarian relief convoys through to the Gorazde area. This will provide a vital first step towards stabilising the increasingly desperate situation there.