Yugoslavia (Hansard, 27 January 2003)

§ Mr. Moore
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what assistance the Government has provided to the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to undertake investigations into the activities of arms dealers involved in the illegal supply of weapons to(a) West Africa and (b) Iraq; [93487]
(2) what the outcomes of his meeting on 6 November 2002 with the President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia were regarding the illegal supply of weapons to (a) West Africa and (b) Iraq; and if he will make a statement;[93488]
(3) what assistance (a) the EU and (b) the UK have provided to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to develop arms export legislation. [93489]

§ Mr. MacShane
When he met President Kostunica and Foreign Minister Svilanovic in late 2002, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised our serious concerns about reports of arms sales from the Federal
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(2) how many applications for a visa to visit family members in the UK were (a) received, (b) determined and (c) refused by those entry clearance posts that provide monthly statistical information in each month since 1 October 2000. [93092]

§ Mr. Rammell
The figures for Family Visit Applications received, determined and refused since October 2000 are set out as follows.
Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) to Iraq and Liberia, in breach of UN sanctions. He urged them to ensure a thorough investigation, leading to prosecutions of those responsible. Since then Mr. Cekovic, Head of Jugoimport, and Mr. Djokic, Assistant Minister for Defence, have been sacked, the Jugoimport office in Baghdad closed and a commission established to investigate Jugoimport's activities. The FRY has also cancelled a bilateral agreement with Iraq and suspended bilateral military industrial agreements with all states that are subject to UN sanctions. Svilanovic has promised further investigation and possible prosecutions. The United Kingdom is considering the provision of technical assistance to the FRY to ensure effective regulation of arms exports. On 10 December UK experts visited Belgrade to conduct a preliminary assessment; a follow-up visit will take place soon. The EU provides support to the FRY's reform process, including improving the democratic control of the armed forces, from its Common Foreign and Security Policy budget.