Written question asked by Ivan Lewis (Labour) on Wednesday, 16 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 February 2000. It was answered by Keith Vaz (Labour) on Thursday, 17 February 2000 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 make a statement on the export of demining equipment to the HALO Trust in Kosovo.

Answer: Mr. Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the export of demining equipment to the HALO Trust in Kosovo. [111120] Mr. Vaz: We have granted a licence for the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of a rocket wrench, de-arming kit and power charges for use by the HALO Trust, an organisation engaged in humanitarian demining activities in Kosovo on behalf of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). These goods are on the UK's Military List. UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1160 imposed an arms embargo on the FRY. The only exception to this embargo is that in UNSCR 1244, which provides that prohibitions imposed by UNSCR 1160 shall not apply to the sale or supply of arms and related material for use by the international civil and security presence in Kosovo. We have notified the UN Sanctions Committee of this export and they have raised no objection. The export of the equipment required for demining purposes is not prohibited by the EU arms embargo.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 344 c676-7W;344 c677W; 111120
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Bomb disposal Export controls Landmines UN resolutions Yugoslavia Kosovo Halo Trust