§ 23. Mr. John CryerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his US counterparts on the use of depleted uranium weapons in the war in Kosovo. [99968]
§ Mr. VazMy right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with his US counterpart on the use of depleted uranium weapons in the war in Kosovo.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the situation in Kosovo. [99945]
§ Mr. Robin CookSix months ago Kosovo was terrorised by repression directed from Belgrade. 850,000 people had been expelled from Kosovo and it was run by the Serb army and paramilitaries. Today, KFOR has replaced the VJ. 810,000 of those refugees have been able to return to their homes, the Serb security forces have been expelled and Kosovo is run by a UN administration.
Formidable challenges remain in creating a Kosovo that is at peace with itself and with its neighbours. We wholeheartedly condemn the minority of Kosovars who have not seized the opportunity to build a Kosovo free from fear but have perpetuated the cycle of violence. But the position of the great majority of the people of Kosovo is far better now than it was under Milosevic's brutality or than it would have been if NATO had not intervened to end it.