§ 30. Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the United Kingdom has to contribute to a multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggBritish troops are already an important part of the relief effort in Bosnia. They will no doubt continue to be needed. If there is a durable ceasefire and a workable agreement, there may need to be a United Nations peacekeeping effort alongside the relief operation. I cannot say whether there should be a change in the role of the British troops in Bosnia until a workable agreement has been secured and the nature of any peacekeeping operation been determined.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the suitability of Tuzla airfield in northern Bosnia for taking heavy transport plances; if mines have been cleared; what plans he has for using the airport to deliver aid; and what assessment he has made of the number of refugees and availability of supplies.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe current assessment of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees is that road access and delivery of supplies to Tuzla are adequate and that there is no need to open the Tuzla airfield for the delivery of supplies by air. The possibility of using the airfield in future is being kept under constant review but would require an extension of UNPROFOR's mandate as well as additional troops on the ground to secure the airport.
There are now estimated 70,000 to 100,000 refugees in Tuzla and more are expected following the recent fighting in eastern Bosnia. Shelter and supplies for the refugees are being prepared and the United Kingdom has already offered to provide additional aid to help meet the needs of the expected refugees.