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Written Answers

Monday, 26th April 1999.

EEC Entry Negotiations

Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have investigated the assertion by Mr. Hugo Young in his recent book This Blessed Plot that someone had given him a copy of the secret text of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's own history of the negotiations on entry to the European Economic Community; and, if so, with what result.[HL2013]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): No.

Diego Garcia

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the relevance to the rest of the Note of 25 February 1976 about the United States presence on Diego Garcia Territory of paragraph 8 "Conservation", which deals with the "restoration" of certain islets for which "neither Government shall be under any obligation to provide funds"; why it was agreed, in paragraph 16 "Property" that "the Government of the US shall not be responsible for restoring land or other immovable property to its original condition, nor for making any payment in lieu of restoration"; and whether they monitor the environmental damage that may be caused by the presence of the US Navy support facility at Diego Garcia.[HL1908]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Paragraph (8) of the 1976 Agreement was drafted in response to scientific recommendations that military development on the three islets in the mouth of Diego Garcia lagoon should be limited, in order to preserve their ecosystems. No development has taken place on these islets, which have been designated Strict Nature Reserves.

Without undertaking considerable historical research, it is not possible to say with assurance what the thinking at the time was on paragraph 16 of the 1976 Agreement.

The British Indian Ocean Territory Government monitors the environment. In 1993 it appointed a Conservation Consultant who makes annual visits to the Territory to assess the state of the environment and report to the BIOT Commissioner. It also sponsors ad hoc environmental research projects.

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the supplemental arrangement of 13 December 1982 relating to the Agreement of 25 February 1976 on Diego Garcia concerning the need of the United States to give due consideration to the

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limited resources of the island, in particular drinking water, and to the avoidance of dumping vehicles, machinery equipment or other non natural waste and dredging or reef blasting indicates that these were activities which the United States authorities had either been engaged in or had not prevented; if so, what is the Government's estimate of the damage that had, at that point, been done; and whether they believe that the American authorities in Diego Garcia are now acting in an environmentally responsible manner towards the islands. [HL1909]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The American authorities on Diego Garcia had been involved in dumping, dredging and coral reef blasting prior to the 1982 UK/US Supplemental Arrangement concerning the United States Navy Support Facility on Diego Garcia. No estimation of any damage done was made at that point.

The BIOT Government believes that the American authorities in Diego Garcia are acting in an environmentally responsible manner.

NATO Actions in Former Yugoslavia

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether NATO Council unanimity is required (a) for the continuation of air operations in former Yugoslavia; (b) for the cessation of air operations; and (c) for the escalation of military action either (i) in numbers of strikes, etc, or (ii) in character of targets; whether General Clark remains fully under the political control of NATO member governments in all these areas; and whether NATO governments together discussed Mr. Primakov's and Mr. Yeltsin's recent remarks before President Clinton dismissed them.[HL1939]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The North Atlantic Council agreed on 30 January to delegate authority to the NATO Secretary-General to decide on air operations against targets in FRY territory, subject to consultation with Allies. The Council has since extended this authority subject to the same conditions. On 23 March, Secretary General Solana announced that, after extensive consultation with Allies, he had directed SACEUR to initiate air operations in the FRY.

NATO functions by consensus. Political oversight of air operations is exercised by the Secretary General and by the North Atlantic Council, which meets at least daily.

It is unclear to what remarks of Mr. Primakov and Mr. Yeltsin the noble Lord refers. We and Allies continue to attach great importance to relations with Russia. We welcome her continued involvement in the search for a sustainable solution to the Kosovo crisis.

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who is to pay (a) for looking after the refugees from Kosovo until they can return home; and (b) for repairing damage caused by the air attacks on the infrastructures of Serbia (including Kosovo) and

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Montenegro, including bridges over the Danube; and whether the destruction of the Danube bridges was a political or military decision.[HL1941]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Britain has recently announced £20 million of assistance for refugees in the region. Britain and its EU partners have just made available an additional 150 million Euros for humanitarian support in the region and 100 million Euros in direct support for Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro.

Our action is in strict accordance with the rules of international law applicable in armed conflicts and is strictly limited to what is necessary to achieve our humanitarian objectives.

We do not discuss individual targeting decisions.

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether compensation is payable to those whose use of the Danube had been interrupted; and, if so, by whom.[HL1942]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are unaware of any such compensation scheme.

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is NATO's purpose to secure the dissolution of the state of Serbia; and, if so, whose responsibility it will be to reconstruct it.[HL1944]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: It is not NATO's purpose to secure the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or of its constituent republics of Serbia and Montenegro.

NATO: Remit

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they accept that:


(a) NATO may engage in military operations without a specific United Nations Security Council mandate, and otherwise than in strict conformity with the United Nations Charter;


(b) NATO may engage in military operations wherever it decides;


(c) the United States Senate has a droit de regard over the defence budgets of the European members of NATO;


(d) Russia is not to be consulted on security matters in Europe but only briefed on NATO decisions.[HL1994]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: In answer to questions (a) and (b), I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave in the House on 9 March. The answer to both (c) and (d) is no.

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the conditions set out in Question HL1994 were imposed by the United States Senate on the United States Administration in the course of agreeing the enlargement of NATO last year; and

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whether the United States Senate approval of the new NATO Strategic Concept is contingent on the inclusion of these conditions in it.[HL1995]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No.

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they intend to support the adoption by NATO of a new Strategic Concept including the conditions set out in Question HL1994; and whether this would be compatible with this country's membership of the United Nations and of its Security Council.[HL1996]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No.

Former Yugoslavia: Refugee Policy

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether it is their policy that all those in former Yugoslavia who have been "ethnically cleansed", including Serbs from what is now Croatia, are to be enabled to return to their homes.[HL1997]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have consistently supported efforts to allow all displaced persons and refugees from the conflicts surrounding the break-up of former Yugoslavia to return home.

We take every opportunity to impress on the governments concerned, including the Government of Croatia, the importance we attach to this fundamental principle.

NATO Links with Kosovan Groups

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are at present the roles alloted by NATO to (a) the Kosovo Liberation Army; and (b) the Kosovo grouping, led by Mr. Rugova, whose representatives have attended North Atlantic Assembly meetings.[HL1998]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: NATO has no formal links with the Kosovo Liberation Army, nor do NATO plans assume any role for the KLA. We are however in touch bilaterally with representatives of the Kosovo Albanian community, including those associated with Mr. Rugova.

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