Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 June 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 24 June 1998. It was answered by Tony Lloyd (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 June 1998 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will comment on the approval of an export licence for the supply of bomb disposal equipment to the Ministry of the Interior, Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia.

Answer: Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the approval of an export licence for the supply of bomb disposal equipment to the Ministry of the Interior, Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia. [47799] Mr. Tony Lloyd: The Government recently approved the export of a complete disruptor set and a box of 100 cartridges to the Ministry of the Interior, Sarajevo Canton, in Bosnia to enable local police bomb disposal teams to defuse bombs placed in the city by criminal and terrorist elements. Given the threat which these improvised explosive devices pose to civilians who are trying to rebuild normal, unthreatened lives in the city, we were glad to be able to approve this export as an exception to our interpretation of the EU arms embargo on the former Yugoslavia. This decision does not affect the Government's continued support of the EU common position on arms exports to the former Yugoslavia.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 314 c532W; 47799
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Arms trade Bomb disposal Export controls Sanctions Bosnia and Herzegovina