HL Deb 22 October 2001 vol 627 cc108-9WA
Lord Acton

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether there have been any recent export licences issued for military listed equipment to Kosovo. [HL858]

The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)

The 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;

protective 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 UNM IK 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.