§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What role they envisage for the South East Europe Stability Pact in a regional policy approach to a lasting solution in Kosovo. [HL3859]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe Stability Pact is a long-term process to bring political and economic reform, co-operation and development to South East Europe. It is too early to say how this might include Kosovo. There, the international community has a separate mandate under UN Security Council Resolution 1244 to organise the development of provisional institutions for democratic and autonomous self-government and to support economic reconstruction.
§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether their ultimate objective for the future of Kosovo is clear to all those carrying responsibility in UNMIK, KFOR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other administrative agencies in Kosovo. [HL3858]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) is working in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 to promote substantial autonomy and self-government in Kosovo, pending a final settlement. The nature of that final settlement has not yet been agreed.
§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they are taking together with other governments and international organisations to ensure that the numbers of expatriate civilian police in Kosovo are brought up to the required level and that they have the qualifications and skills for the task in hand. [HL3856]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalAccording to the United Nations Secretariat, there are currently 4,174 civilian police officers deployed with the United Nations International Police (UN1P) in Kosovo, out of a total of 4,718 mandated by the Security Council. The UK has 124 police officers seconded to UNIP, with a further 20 due to deploy in November. The UK has also contributed a further 40 police officers to the OSCE Police Training School, whose current staffing level is around 200 officers out of an establishment of 211.
The UK has supported the United Nations and the OSCE in encouraging other states to contribute police officers to Kosovo.
31WAThe United Nations and the OSCE have distributed selection standards for civilian police to all contributing states. Before being accepted on an international mission, officers must meet strict criteria concerning nationality, professional status, mental and physical health, experience, language, driving and integrity. The UN also imposes firearms handling standards in armed missions such as Kosovo. If officers are found not to meet any of these standards, they are repatriated at their state's expense.
§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
How the preparation of a new legal code for Kosovo relates to their ultimate objective for the future of Kosovo. [HL3860]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalUNMIK has chosen to base the legal code on the law as in Kosovo in 1989, before Milosevic removed Kosovo's autonomy. This was a symbolic gesture but important to get Kosovars to participate in the legal system and to help recruit local judges and prosecutors. This, together with regulations issued by UNMIK, constitute a provisional legal base for Kosovo without prejudicing the eventual future status of Kosovo.