§ Mr. ColmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about recent export licences for military listed equipment to Kosovo. [9247]
§ Mr. MacShaneThe Government have recently issued licences for the export of the following military listed goods:
Bulletproof vests for use by the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) which will provide protection against the threat posed by small arms.
A cab control box for use by the Irish contingent of Kosovo Force (KFOR). It is a logistical piece of equipment that offers remote control operation from within the cab of a military cargo vehicle to load and unload paletted loads such as fuel, ammunition or temporary accommodation, allowing the operator to remain in the cab in potentially dangerous situations.
1299WProtective body armour for use by Ronco Consulting Corporation who are engaged in humanitarian demining activities on behalf of the UN Mine Action Co-ordination Centre in Kosovo.
Protective body armour and components for UNMIK for use by the Kosovo Police Service, which provides protection against the threat posed by small arms.
When the export licences were issued for these goods, the FRY was subject to an EU arms embargo (EU Common Position 96/184/CFSP). The decisions on these exports were part of the Government's continuing support for the peaceful reconstruction of Kosovo and were in the Government's view, within the spirit of the embargo, which was subsequently lifted on 8 October 2001, following the removal of the UN arms embargo on 10 September.