HL Deb 19 December 1995 vol 567 c138WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it was decided earlier this year within NATO that Croatian infringements of ceasefires and of human rights should not provoke NATO bombing, and if so whether this was at US insistence.

Lord Chesham

The use of NATO air power in Bosnia was authorised under UNSCRs 816 and 844. This allowed UN commanders on the ground to call for air strikes should there have been: (a) an attack on a UN safe area; or (b) a breach of the no-fly zone. NATO aircraft were also able to retaliate in self defence. NATO had authority to respond in this way to attacks in Bosnia from any side. NATO had no authority for the use of air power against Croatian government forces in Croatia.