§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in(a) Bosnia and Herzegovina, (b) Montenegro, (c) southern Serbia and (d) Kosovo. [153110]
§ Mr. VazIn Bosnia and Herzegovina the security situation remains calm. We have no specific concerns about the security situation in Montenegro.
The violent activities of Albanian extremists in southern Serbia are of serious concern to the Yugoslav and Serbian Governments, and to the international community. We welcome the restraint shown by the Yugoslav/Serbian authorities and the proposals they have presented to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis. We are working with our partners and Allies to support this process.
The security situation in Kosovo is much improved since 1999 when UNMIK and KFOR were established. Nevertheless, criminally, ethnically and politically motivated violence remains a serious problem. Efforts to counter this is a key priority for UNMIK and KFOR.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of continued support by the newly elected Belgrade administration to nationalist elements in Bosnia's entity Republika Srpska. [153101]
§ Mr. VazThe FRY and Serbian Government in Belgrade have publicly expressed their support for the Dayton/Paris accords, and their intention to work within the framework established at Dayton.
On 5 March, an agreement was signed establishing a special parallel relationship between FRY and Republika Srpska. Such agreements are allowed under the Dayton/Paris accords, and the agreement was approved in advance by the High Representative. We hope that this will formalise relations between the democratically 398W elected Governments in both the FRY and Republika Srpska, increase transparency, and enhance regional stability.