HL Deb 05 April 2004 vol 659 c188WA
Lord Astor of Hever

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assessment they have made of the extent to which the borders between (a) Kosovo and Albania and (b) Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are adequately secured; and who controls these borders. [HL2046]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)

Responsibility for border control points in Kosovo is held by the Kosovo police service under the authority of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo. Responsibility for the border security of Kosovo, including adjacent to the border with Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, rests with the NATO-led Kosovo Force. On the Macedonian side of the border, responsibility for border crossing points rests with the Macedonian border police, and for the rest of the border with the First Army Brigade. On the Albanian side of the border, the Albanian police are responsible for border control. We assess that Kosovo's borders with both Albania and Macedonia are adequately secured.