§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what investigations are currently being made by Her Majesty's Goverment or the EC into possible widespread incidence of epidemic disease and illness in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a result of the effects of implementation of economic and diplomatic sanctions; and if he will make a statement;
(2) when he received the report prepared for the European Community by the Belgian ambassador to Belgrade on 17 September regarding the effects on humanitarian and medical provisions in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a result of economic and diplomatic sanctions; and if he will make a statement;
266W(3) what reports he has received into the medical and humanitarian situation in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a result of the implementation of economic and diplomatic sanctions; what assessment he has made of the effect on medical and humanitarian services and facilities as a resuslt of such sanctions; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe incidence of epidemic disease and illness throughout the former Yugoslavia, including Serbia and Montenegro, is the subject of frequent investigation by the World Health Organisation which is responsible for co-ordinating the international relief effort. We have made a substantial contribution including a further £10 million in medical assistance announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development on 26 August. Our total contributions, directly and through the European Community, is £141 million. Although we have not received a report prepared by the Belgian ambassador, we have received a great many reports from other sources, including that prepared by the all-party parliamentary group about humanitarian aid and UN sanctions.
Sanctions applied to Serbia and Montenegro under UN Security Council resolutions Nos. 757 and 820 specifically exclude foods and medicines, subject to notification procedures in the United Nations sanctions committee. We have worked hard in this committee to ensure that genuine humanitarian shipments are expedited.
§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support moves lo allow the Federal Yugoslav authorities to fly humanitarian and medical support directly into Belgrade airport; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd: We recognise the importance of providing rapid humanitarian and medical support to those most in need, in the former Yugoslavia regardless of their origins.
The Belgrade authorities have made no applications to fly humanitarian supplies directly into Belgrade. The UN sanctions committee would need to decide whether this would be permitted under existing UN resolutions.