§ Ms SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the export of de-mining vehicles to the HALO Trust in Kosovo. [128297]
§ Mr. VazThe Government have granted a licence for the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of an armour protected wheel loading tractor for use by the HALO Trust, an organisation engaged in humanitarian de-mining activities in Kosovo on behalf of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). This vehicle is rated on the UK's Military List.
Although UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1160 (1998) imposed an arms embargo on the FRY, UNSCR 1160 shall not apply to the sale or supply of arms and 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.