HC Deb 01 February 2000 vol 343 cc538-9W
Mr. Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his most recent estimate of the number of Serbs who have been ethnically cleansed from Kosovo since June 1999. [107483]

Mr. Vaz

Protection of the Kosovo Serbs and other minorities is a top priority for KFOR and UNMIK. KFOR devotes around half of its resources at present to maintaining a presence in minority areas. In the UK-led sector, there are KFOR soldiers present in Serb towns and villages, as well as soldiers deployed to protect individual homes and farms. KFOR conducts patrols and escorts individuals to school and to work. In September 1999 UNMIK and Mr. Kouchner estimated 97,000 Serbs remain in Kosovo from a pre-war population of around 200,000. Since then there have been population movements in both directions of similar size.

Mr. Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on KLA involvement in terrorism and drug running. [107523]

Mr. Vaz

The KLA was demilitarised in September 1999 in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1244 and has ceased to exist. The UN Mission in Kosovo and the NATO-led Kosovo force monitor individuals and armed groups for any illegal activity and pay particular attention to tackling violence and drug trafficking.

Mr. Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current strength of and support for the KLA in Kosovo. [107524]

Mr. Vaz

The KLA was demilitarised in September 1999, in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 1244 and has ceased to exist. Recent opinion polls indicate that the PPDK (Democratic Progress Party of Kosovo), the political party formed by the former commander of the KLA, Hashism Thaqi, has about 29 per cent. support and its leader about 15 per cent. We are committed to early democratic elections in Kosovo.

Mr. Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the levels of(a) rape, (b) murder, (c) torture and (d) intimidation of Serb civilians in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [107525]

Mr. Vaz

There were 430 reported murders and 180 kidnappings in Kosovo in the period between KFOR's deployment there on 12 June and 25 December last year. We do not have a breakdown of these figures by ethnic origin but of the 383 murders reported up to mid-November, 139 were Serbs, 145 Albanians and 99 of unknown ethnic origin. UNMIK and KFOR are putting substantial resources into protecting ethnic minorities. Currently over 50 per cent. of KFOR troops are on minority protection duties, providing a permanent presence in Serb towns, villages, neighbourhoods and individual houses. KFOR's presence has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of reported major offences from over 300 in the last week of June to fewer than 50 in the last week of November. There are no figures available for the other crimes.

Mr. Maclean

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British soldiers are involved in full-time protection of Serb civilians in Pristina from attacks by Albanians. [107522]

Mr. Vaz

Some 3,500 British soldiers are deployed with KFOR in Kosovo, of whom some 2,300 are serving in Pristina. KFOR currently devotes about half of its resources to protecting Serbs and other minorities.

Forward to