HL Deb 28 April 1999 vol 600 c36WA
Lord Jenkins of Putney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that the NATO operation against Yugoslavia has led to more civilian deaths than would have occurred without a military operation; and whether they will cease the military operations and instead pursue their aims through purely diplomatic means. [HL2043]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Military action is being taken only as a last resort to seek to end a humanitarian catastrophe and secure a lasting peace for the Balkans. All civilian deaths are a tragedy. But a key NATO aim has been to keep civilian casualties to a minimum, in contrast to the deliberate targeting of civilians by Serbian security forces.

NATO has clearly set out its conditions for a cessation of military action. President Milosevic knows what he must do if he continues to reject the path of peace and pursue a military strategy. NATO will continue to degrade his forces' ability to repress.