§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when Her Majesty's Government first made direct contact with the Kosova Liberation Army; and how many meetings there have been between Her Majesty's Government and that organisation since. [83494]
§ Mr. Tony Lloyd[holding answer 7 May 1999]: An initial meeting between an official of the British Embassy in Belgrade and leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was held on 30 July 1998. As co-Chairman of the Rambouillet peace talks, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary held frequent meetings with the Kosovo Albanian delegation, which included representatives of the KLA. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and officials have subsequently had a number of contacts with senior leaders of the KLA.