HL Deb 12 July 1999 vol 604 cc1-2WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What status they accord to the Kosovo Liberation Army; whether they have any arrangements with this irregular military force, like that reached by US Secretary of State Albright in February at Rambouillet; and, if so, whether US and UK policy to convert the KLA into the police force of Kosovo as proposed by Mrs. Albright in February is a NATO policy approved by council consensus or a policy particular to the US and the UK governments. [HL3194]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We have not accorded any particular status to the KLA. Nor are we aware of any arrangements between the KLA and the US Secretary of State of the kind mentioned. The key arrangement concerning the KLA is the undertaking to demilitarise signed by Hashim Thaqi as KLA commander in chief on 21 June. KLA aspirations that individual members participate in the police force in Kosovo and that a national guard be formed are just that. They have not been agreed by NATO.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What status or legitimacy within Kosovo the Kosovo Liberation Army has; and how this compares with the unofficially elected government of Mr. Rugova. [HL3195]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

The KLA does not have any particular status within Kosovo. There are several political groupings in Kosovo which have their own views of their status and legitimacy. The policy of Her Majesty's Government is 10 pursue contacts with all groupings ready to contribute positively to building Kosovo's future.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have discussed their support for the Kosovo Liberation Army with the Government of Albania, in view of that Government's concern over armed structures operating outside state control in three Kosovo Liberation Army training camps in Albania; and whether they have informed the Albanian Government of the purposes of the 300 hectare NATO military base being built at Kurjan, also in Albania. [HL3196]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We have not offered any support to the KLA. We are not aware of a. NATO base at Kurjan.

Forward to