HC Deb 24 May 1993 vol 225 cc371-3W
Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to hold meetings with the three parties involved in the civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Lord Owen and Mr. Stoltenberg, the co-chairmen of the international conference on the former Yugoslavia, hold regular talks with the parties to the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina. They met most recently with the leaders of the Bosnian Government and the Bosnian Croats on 18 May. Military commanders of the three parties meet regularly in the mixed military working group in Sarajevo, under the auspices of the international conference. We have no plans to hold separate meetings with the parties.

Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what breaches there have been of the no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina since the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 816; and if he will list them.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

UNPROFOR reports of violations of the no-fly zone give details of 28 breaches or probable breaches between 12 April, when the NATO operation to enforce the no-fly zone began, and 12 May, the end of the period covered by the latest UNPROFOR report.

Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what importance Her Majesty's Government attach to the current co-operation of the leadership of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in supporting the Vance/Owen peace plan; and what measures have been taken to encourage their further support.

Mr. Douglas-Hogg

While we welcome President Milosevic's announcement of support for the Vance/Owen plan, we have made it clear we now expect him to use all his influence to persuade the Bosnian Serbs to accept it. We have called on him to accept international monitoring of the border between Bosnia and Serbia/Montenegro to establish whether he is carrying out his declared intention to cut off all but essential humanitarian supplies to the Bosnian Serbs. President Milosevic is aware that United Nations Security Council resolution 820 provides for a review of sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro if the Bosnian Serbs accept the peace plan and effectively implement it in good faith.

Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all confirmed breaches of the no-fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina since its introduction, in circumstances where aircraft are known to have crossed international frontiers; if he will detail the origin and destination of such flights; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

There have been 545 violations or probable violations of the no-fly zone set up in UN Security Council resolutions 761 and 776 since 13 October 1992. Most of these appear to have taken place entirely within Bosnian airspace, although there have been some instances where aircraft have been observed flying away from or towards an international border. The information available in these cases is generally insufficient to determine whether the aircraft involved actually crossed the border.

Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when discussions are next scheduled with EC or United Nations Security Council partners to discuss the implementation of a monitoring force along the border between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

A resolution authorising the deployment of United Nations monitors along the border between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina is currently under discussion at the UN in New York.

Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact of the continuation of sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in respect of their co-operation and support for the Vance-Owen peace plan; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

UN sanctions have made a major contribution to the current serious economic situation in Serbia and Montenegro. We consider that the pressure exerted by the international community, including sanctions, was instrumental in the recent decision of the Presidents of Serbia and Montenegro and of the so-called Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to announce support for the Vance-Owen peace plan.

Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom plans to contribute forces to monitor the border between Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

At its meeting on 10 May, the EC Foreign Affairs Council indicated that the European Community and its member states would be willing to contribute to international efforts to monitor Bosnia's border with Serbia and Montenegro. No decision has yet been taken on a United Kingdom contribution.

Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government last had official contact with the President of Serbia; and what were the circumstances and outcome.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a message to President Milosevic on 17 May. He welcomed President Milosevic's agreement to support the Vance/Owen plan and to close the border of Serbia with Bosnia to all but humanitarian supplies, but made it clear that we would judge the President's policies by deeds rather than words. We support the EC offer to contribute to an international monitoring operation on the Serbia-Bosnia border to ensure that President Milosevic lives up to his commitment.

Mr. Faber

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the introduction of further sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia if there is no change in current political circumstances.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Sanctions were toughened recently with the passage of Security Council resolution 820 on 17 April but we would certainly consider the need for further measures against Serbia and Montenegro if we felt the political situation required them.

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