§ Viscount Merseyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their policy on the export of demining equipment to the former Yugoslavia?
§ Baroness Chalker of Wallasey:On 26th February 1996, the European Union adopted a common position on arms exports to the former Yugoslavia which expressly excludes from the EU embargo "transfers of equipment needed for demining activities". The supply of demining equipment is vital to the task of detecting and destroying landmines laid during the war in former Yugoslavia. The Government gives sympathetic consideration to applications for the export of demining equipment for humanitarian purposes to former Yugoslavia on a case by case basis, taking into account the overall situation in the States of the former Yugoslavia and the paramount importance of ensuring the safety of British and other troops deployed in the region.