§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What response they and the Contact Group of Nations are making to the recent killing in Kosovo by Serb forces of three persons trying to deliver food supplies from the Mother Teresa Charity, together with 68WA obstruction of the staff of humanitarian agencies and of aid convoys at the Yugoslav frontiers. [HL3286]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)We were greatly saddened by the death in August of the three aid workers near Malisevo. It underlines the risks faced by all humanitarian agencies operating in Kosovo. Despite the dangers, there is a very real need for effective humanitarian relief.
We welcome UN Security Council Resolution 1199, which Britain took the lead in preparing. The resolution warns President Milosevic that he must put an end to the wave of repression which has made tens of thousands homeless and sends a clear signal that the international community's patience is exhausted. It calls on both sides to facilitate the humanitarian relief effort and do all in their power to avert the impending humanitarian catastrophe. It also calls for a ceasefire in Kosovo and rapid progress on political dialogue, which is the only route to a lasting solution to the humanitarian problem.
With our Contact Group colleagues, we are taking action in Belgrade and Pristina to make clear that we expect SCR 1199 to be fully and rapidly implemented.
NATO contingency planning for a full range of military options is now complete. As a first stage in force planning, the North Atlantic Council on 24 September decided to move to force generation for both a limited air option and a phased air campaign in Kosovo. This brings NATO's military planning to a high state of readiness, should the necessary decisions have to be taken.
We fully support the humanitarian relief effort in Kosovo. The Department for International Development (DfID) has pledged £2 million to that effort following the recent UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal. This is in addition to the UK's contribution of £1 million for humanitarian assistance following the Flash Appeal earlier this year, £1.5 million allocated for longer term peace-building activities in the region and £200,000 made available to the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights for field operations in Kosovo.