HC Deb 23 March 1994 vol 240 cc294-5W
Dr. David Clark

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money has been received from the United Nations to pay for(a) Operation Hanwood, (b) Operation Cheshire and (c) Operation Grapple; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The names "Hanwood, Cheshire and Grapple" are national terms to describe participation by British armed forces in UN operations in the former Yugoslavia. The terms are not used by the UN. The UN has made payments to cover United Kingdom troop costs for both Operation Hanwood—the field ambulance which withdrew from Croatia in September—and Operation Grapple—The United Kingdom operation in Bosnia—as one payment for the total United Kingdom troop contribution to UNPROFOR.

Operation Cheshire describes RAF participation in the Sarajevo airlift. The United Nations does not refund costs to any of the participants who are carrying in humanitarian supplies on behalf of UNHCR.

UNPROFOR Croatia—UNPROFOR I—began in February 1992. In the first six months United Kingdom's participation in UNPROFOR II was at no additional cost to the United Nations; the operation was placed on United Nations assessed contributions on 1 April 1993.

Reimbursements from the United Nations to date are as follows:

  • FY 1992–93
  • UNPROFOR I payments for troop costs for the period to 31 July 1992
  • Total £191,663.25
  • FY 1993–94 to date
  • UNPROFOR I payments for troop costs March 1992 to March 1993
  • £1,667,909.09
  • UNPROFOR I and II payments for troop costs April-November 1993
  • £13,439,501.66
  • UNPROFOR II rations for the period April-September 1993 £2,013,288.19
  • UNPROFOR II payment for helicopter services April-September 295 1993
  • £979,273.70
  • Total £18,099,972.64

Mr. Wareing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the meeting between United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Serbian President in Belgrade on 15 March; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

[holding answer 21 March 1994]: Mrs. Ogata received assurances from President Milosevic that he would use his influence with the Bosnian Serbs over access to Maglaj. The situation has now improved and the first United Nations aid convoy to reach the town since October arrived on 20 March. Mrs. Ogata also expressed her concern at the continued human rights abuses in Banja Luka. We look to the Serb authorities to act on these concerns.

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