HC Deb 07 April 1998 vol 310 cc200-1W
26. Mr. Illsley

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the situation in Kosovo. [36559]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

We are deeply concerned by the potential for further violence in Kosovo. The use of excessive force by the Serbian police in recent weeks against Kosovar Albanians will have widened support for the terrorists. We call on President Milosevic to act quickly to launch the meaningful dialogue necessary to strengthen the hands of moderates on both sides.

27. Mr. Lock

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with representatives of Albania and Macedonia about the situation in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [36560]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

My right hon. Friend the Fo0reign Secretary chaired a meeting in Bonn on 25 March of Contact Group, EU Troika and regional countries including Albania and Macedonia, at which the situation in Kosovo was discussed. My right hon. Friend also had a separate bilateral meeting on this occasion with Prime Minister Nano. We remain in close touch with Albania and Macedonia.

Mr. Austin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take to protect the Albanian community in Kosovo. [38182]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

The United Kingdom has played a leading role in the concerted international response to the violence in Kosovo in recent weeks. We shall continue to work with our international partners to underline that repression in Kosovo will not be tolerated and to encourage meaningful dialogue without preconditions on the future status of the province.

Mr. Austin

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consequences of the decision of the Contact Group to postpone the implementation of the recommendations set out in its statement of 9 March; and if he will make a statement. [38183]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

Members of the Contact Group have already implemented measures against Belgrade in accordance with their agreement in London on 9 March. In addition the European Union decided on 19 March to continue its arms embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), not to supply repressive equipment, to introduce a visa ban against certain named individuals and to apply a moratorium on export credits to Serbia. The United Nations Security Council adopted a comprehensive arms embargo against the FRY on 31 March.

Contact Group Ministers meeting in Bonn on 25 March urged Belgrade to engage in a meaningful dialogue without preconditions with the Kosovar Albanian leadership. They agreed that the Contact Group would meet again after four weeks to review progress and consider the need for additional measures.