§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether NATO Council unanimity is required (a) for the continuation of air operations in former Yugoslavia; (b) for the cessation of air operations; and (c) for the escalation of military action either (i) in numbers of strikes, etc, or (ii) in character of targets; whether General Clark remains fully under the political control of NATO member governments in all these areas; and whether NATO governments together discussed Mr. Primakov's and Mr. Yeltsin's recent remarks before President Clinton dismissed them. [HL19391]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe North Atlantic Council agreed on 30 January to delegate authority to the NATO Secretary-General to decide on air operations against targets in FRY territory, subject to consultation with Allies. The Council has since extended this authority subject to the same conditions. On 23 March, Secretary General Solana announced that, after extensive consultation with Allies, he had directed SACEUR to initiate air operations in the FRY.
NATO functions by consensus. Political oversight of air operations is exercised by the Secretary General and by the North Atlantic Council, which meets at least daily.
It is unclear to what remarks of Mr. Primakov and Mr. Yeltsin the noble Lord refers. We and Allies continue to attach great importance to relations with Russia. We welcome her continued involvement in the search for a sustainable solution to the Kosovo crisis.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
who is to pay (a) for looking after the refugees from Kosovo until they can return home; and (b) for repairing damage caused by the air attacks on the infrastructures of Serbia (including Kosovo) and 3WA Montenegro, including bridges over the Danube; and whether the destruction of the Danube bridges was a political or military decision. [HL1941]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanBritain has recently announced £20 million of assistance for refugees in the region. Britain and its EU partners have just made available an additional 150 million Euros for humanitarian support in the region and 100 million Euros in direct support for Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro.
Our action is in strict accordance with the rules of international law applicable in armed conflicts and is strictly limited to what is necessary to achieve our humanitarian objectives.
We do not discuss individual targeting decisions.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether compensation is payable to those whose use of the Danube had been interrupted; and, if so, by whom. [HL1942]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanWe are unaware of any such compensation scheme.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is NATO's purpose to secure the dissolution of the state of Serbia; and, if so, whose responsibility it will be to reconstruct it [HL1944]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanIt is not NATO's purpose to secure the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or of its constituent republics of Serbia and Montenegro.