§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Bulgarian Government concerning(a) the consequences for Bulgaria of sanctions against Yugoslavia and (b) the situation in Kosovo, with particular reference to its multi-ethnic composition. [108231]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 7 February 2000]: The Bulgarian Government have been consistent in their support for NATO policy towards Yugoslavia ever since the breakdown of the Rambouillet talks in March last year. The Bulgarian Government has expressed understandable concern about the impact to their economy of the Kosovo crisis, including sanctions against Yugoslavia and the closure of the Danube—in particular on their transport links through Serbia to Western European markets. The latest World bank figures indicate that the cost to the Bulgarian economy of the crisis since last March has been some US$100 million. HM Government are seeking to address these concerns through the Stability Pact and other multilateral and 186W bilateral assistance projects, including the Know How Fund. Bulgaria supports a multi-ethnic Kosovo with wide-ranging autonomy within Yugoslavia.