§ Lord Graham of Edmontonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have granted a licence for the proposed export of smoke and incendiary grenades to the Norwegian KFOR contingent in Kosovo; and, if so, how they reconcile this with the United Nations and European Union arms embargoes in place on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [HL209]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office(Baroness Scotland of Asthal)We have granted a licence for the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of 2,000 incendiary hand grenades and 6,000 coloured smoke 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.