§ Miss BeggTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the supply of demining equipment to non-Governmental organisations in Kosovo. [129387]
§ Mr. VazWe have approved the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of protective body armour to Danish Church Aid and European Landmine Solutions, organisations engaged in humanitarian demining activities on behalf of the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK).
These goods are on the Military List. UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1160 (1998) prohibits the supply of arms and related material to the FRY. However UNSCR 1244 (1999), provides for the sale or supply or arms or related material for use by the international civil and security presence in Kosovo. We have notified the UN FRY Sanctions Committee of this export and they have raised no objection. The export of this equipment underlines UK support both for the peaceful reconstruction of Kosovo and the work of the UN Mines Action Programme.