HC Deb 07 November 2000 vol 356 cc187-9W
Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of civilian Serbs(a) resident in Kosovo at the beginning of 1999, (b) who left after the NATO action and the withdrawal of the Serb forces and (c) who have subsequently returned. [136290]

Mr. Vaz

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that before the conflict there were around 200,000 Kosovo Serbs in the province. Estimates for the number of Kosovo Serbs remaining are in the range of 100,000. Those who return frequently do so independently and usually without assistance from UNMIK; thus estimated number of Serb returns are not available.

Mr. Rowlands

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of civilian(a) Roma, (b) Muslim and (c) Slav people resident in Kosovo at the beginning of 1999; how many left after the NATO action and the withdrawal of the Serb forces; and how many have subsequently returned. [136200]

Mr. Vaz

Pre-conflict population figures for Kosovo were far from exact. The 1991 census recorded some 45,000 Roma living in Kosovo, but their numbers may well have been considerably higher. The number of Gypsies (including Askali and Egyptians as well as Roma) is now estimated to be 30,000, although more may be present but unreported. The Pre-conflict Muslim population (Kosovo Albanians and Turks) was roughly estimated at 1.8 million. With the vast majority of the 860,000 refugees having returned to the province, their estimated numbers remain close to this figure. It is estimated that some 200,000 Kosovo Serbs were present pre-March 1999. In addition, Kosovo's Muslim Slave populations (Bosniacs and Gorani) stood at around 57,000 and 12,000 before the conflict and today number about 35,000 and 12,000.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of compatibility of the provisions of applicable law for Kosovo with human rights standards. [135426]

Mr. Vaz

[holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has recently published a report on the workings of Kosovo's criminal justice system, making a number of criticisms. The report has been submitted to the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) who will respond in due course.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is regarding the Kosovo currency. [135420]

Mr. Vaz

[holding answer 6 November 2000]: We supported the decision of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) to issue an UNMIK regulation on the use of foreign currencies in Kosovo in September 1999. The regulation does not preclude the use of the Yugoslav dinar and as such does not pose a threat to FRY sovereignty.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in setting up interim self-government institutions in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement. [135422]

Mr. Vaz

[holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) Dr. Bernard Kouchner issued a regulation on 11 August 2000 concerning self-government of municipalities in Kosovo, outlining the responsibilities, rights and duties of the municipalities and those individuals elected to serve within them.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions his Department has taken following the OSCE report 'Kosovo: A Review of the Criminal Justice System'. [135424]

Mr. Vaz

[holding answer 6 November 2000]: This report has been submitted to the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) who will respond in due course.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the consistency of approaches to the applicable law of Kosovo's courts and authorities. [135427]

Mr. Vaz

[holding answer 6 November 2000]: The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has recently published a report on the workings of Kosovo's criminal justice system, making a number of criticisms. The report has been submitted to the United Nations Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) who will respond in due course.

Mrs. Gillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the future of Serb military and police deployment in Kosovo. [135421]

Mr. Vaz

[holding answer 6 November 2000]: UN Security Council resolution 1244 confirms that an agreed number of Yugoslav and Serb military and police personnel will be permitted to return to Kosovo to perform certain functions as defined in annex 2 to the resolution. The return of these personnel will be subject to a separate agreement. No such agreement has yet been reached.