HC Deb 24 February 1994 vol 238 cc309-10W
Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 February,Official Report, column 709, what information he has on the causes of the intra-Muslim tension in the Bihac pocket; and if this tension has led to armed conflict.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Infra-Muslim tension in the Bihac area resulted from the declaration of the autonomous province of Western Bosnia by Fikret Abdic. This has led to conflict between Abdic's forces and those loyal to the Bosnian Government.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 939, what report was made to the United Nations Security Council on 17 February on the presence of regular Croatian troops in Bosnia-Herzegovina; what numbers he estimated were deployed there; in which areas they were deployed; and what action he recommended.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The Secretary-General's report to the Security Council concluded that there may be as many as 5,000 regular Croatian troops in Bosnia, but that UNPROFOR had not found any command structures or any regular Croatian army brigades operating as formed units. We have repeatedly condemned Croatian interference in Bosnia. The issue is now being considered by the Security Council. In the meantime, we shall continue to press the Croatian Government to withdraw their forces.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 15 February,Official Report, column 709, if he will list those who gave evidence to the United Nations investigative team who looked into the massacre at the Sarajevo market on 5 February.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The report of the United Nations investigative team has not been published. Details of witnesses or others consulted in the investigation have not been made available.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communication he has had from Lord Owen in respect of an UNPROFOR report about the massacre at the Sarajevo market on 5 February; what information was contained in that communication; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Lord Owen communicates regularly with European Union Foreign Ministers, reporting on his talks with the Bosnia parties. The contents of these communications are confidential.

The United Nations investigative team, established by United Nations Secretary-General's Special Representative, Yasushi Akashi, concluded that it was not possible to establish who was responsible for the Sarajevo market massacre.

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 February,Official Report, column 939, what is the basis for his belief that Belgrade is recruiting personnel and providing equipment for the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

That belief is based on reports from Belgrade and theatre.

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