Kosovo (Hansard, 28 October 1999)

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department is taking to encourage the curtailment in Kosovo of the activities of the Sherbimi Informativ I Kosaves; and if he will make a statement. [95295]

§ Mr. Vaz
The Sherbimi Informativ I Kosaves was affiliated to the now disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army, acting as its intelligence and security service. As part of the demilitarisation process, the KLA has undertaken to disengage in conflict and re-integrate into civilian society, an undertaking which is under constant scrutiny by KFOR and UNMIK.
KFOR and UNMIK take a wholly even-handed approach to law and order. They will act against any report of illegal activity from whatever source.

§ Mr. Bercow
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the Kosovo Liberation Army has fully disarmed; and if he will make a statement on the KLA's reserves of military equipment. [95227]

§ Mr. Vaz
On 20 September KFOR reported that the KLA was broadly in compliance with the undertaking to demilitarise which was given to NATO on 21 June.
The then commander of KFOR, General Sir Mike Jackson, said on 13 October that over 10,000 weapons and 5 million rounds of ammunition had been handed in by the KLA. Any weapons now found on ex-KLA members are unlawfully held and are subject to seizure and destruction.

§ Mr. Gardiner
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the export of military equipment for the use of the international civil and security presences in Kosovo since 26 July. [96830]

§ Mr. Vaz
UN Security Council resolution 1160 imposed an arms embargo against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). The only exception to this embargo is that in UNSCR 1244, which 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. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1998 sets out the licensing requirements in relation to this embargo.
Since 26 July 1999, the Government have licensed the export of the following equipment on the Military List to organisations involved in demining activities in Kosovo on behalf of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission In Kosovo (UNMIK). The United Nations FRY Sanctions Committee has approved the export of all of these goods.

60 helmet and visor assemblies

60 mine search jackets

4 de-armers/disruptors

2 rocket wrench

2 box of 66, .05 cartridges for de-armers/disruptors
991
20 RBR fragmentation vests

5 high energy mini shrikes (used for mine destruction)

10 LBA armoured protective helmets

50 RBR warrior helmets

50 protective vests

35 protective trousers

50 spare advanced fragmentation visors

12 Beethoven Mk 19 exploders.
The Government have also licensed the export of the following equipment on the Military List to the international KFOR contingent in Kosovo. demining explosives 4 armoured Land Rovers 110s.