§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current situation in Kosovo; and how long he estimates UK troops will remain there. [101330]
§ Mr. VazThe situation in Kosovo has been transformed in the six months since the deployment of KFOR on 12 July.
KFOR has robust presence throughout Kosovo. The Serbian VJ and MUP forces have withdrawn and their reign of terror and repression has ended. The KLA have been demilitarised. But problems remain. KFOR are having to devote 50 per cent. of their manpower to the protection of minorities, with a permanent presence in Serb communities. Some 1,800 UNMIK police have been deployed covering 60 per cent. of Kosovo but further resources are needed. The murder rate has fallen but crime and violence remain too high. The UK is working with EU partners to help the UN Mission (UNMIK) more effectively to tackle organised crime.
§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed export of smoke and incendiary grenades to the Norwegian KFOR contingent in Kosovo; and what assessment he has made of its compatibility with the UN and EU arms embargoes in place in the former Republic of Yugoslavia. [101732]
§ Mr. VazWe have granted a licence for the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of 2,000 incendiary hand grenades and 6,000 coloured smoke406W grenades for use in de-mining activities by the Norwegian KFOR contingent deployed in Kosovo. These goods are on the UK's military List.
UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1160 imposed an arms embargo on the FRY. The only exception to this embargo is that UNSCR 1244 provides that prohibitions imposed by UNSCR 1160 shall not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related material for the use of the international civil and security presences in Kosovo. Equipment needed for de-mining activities is not covered by the EU arms embargo.