§ 30. Gillian MerronTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about progress towards a political settlement in Kosovo. [69451]
§ Mr. Tony LloydContact Group Foreign Ministers met in Paris at the weekend to assess progress in the Kosovo peace talks. Although progress has been slower than we had hoped, the two parties remain engaged and we agreed to allow them a further week in which to conclude negotiations. It is now crucial that they reach agreement on the difficult issues outstanding.
Provided that the parties live up to their responsibilities to reach an interim settlement, the international community is willing to devote significant civilian and military resources to helping the people of Kosovo rebuild their lives in conditions of security. But we will hold both sides accountable if they fail to take this opportunity.