HL Deb 12 February 1998 vol 585 c215WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking, as holders of the Presidency of the European Union or otherwise, to secure for the ethnic Albanians of Kosovo the rights set out in Part IV of the Copenhagen Declaration of June 1990 (Cm 1324) and to prevent violence by the Serbian police and military against the population of Kosovo. [HL331]

Lord Whitty

Her Majesty's Government (both bilaterally and as EU Presidency) have consistently reminded the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia that making concrete progress to resolve the serious political and human rights issues in Kosovo is essential if Belgrade is to improve its relations with the international community. We have condemned all acts of violence on both sides. Most recently, my honourable friend the Minister of State, Mr. Lloyd, raised this issue with the new FRY Foreign Minister on 2 February during a visit to the region.