As I indicated in my reply to another question on 29 September, as well as in my statement to the House on 1 October, the Government is gravely concerned at the situation in Kosovo. I have availed of every opportunity, at EU level, to stress the need for an adequate response to this situation, including at the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Salzburg last moonth and also at a further meeting of EU Foreign Ministers which took place in New York on 22 September. I ensured that our views were put forward at the General Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on 5 October. In my statement on 1 October I set out in detail what the Government is doing in support of efforts to ensure that the Belgrade authorities fulfil the demands required of them by Resolution 1199 which was adopted by the UN Security Council on 23 September.
I welcome the speedy publication on 5 October of the report of the UN General Secretary, Mr Kofi Annan, which spells out clearly both the large scale of non-compliance since the adoption of Resolution 1199 by Belgrade with its terms, and also the actions which the FRY authorities have yet to take to ensure that its terms are put fully into effect. I note in particular the reiterated condemnation by the Secretary General of the recent atrocities and of the indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force, and I fully share his views. Resolution 1199 calls for international intervention under a number of headings. It demands that all parties, groups and individuals cease hostilities and maintain a cease-fire and that the authorities in Belgrade and the Kosovo Albanian leadership take immediate steps to improve the humanitarian situation and to avert the impending humanitarian catastrophe. It calls on both sides to enter immediately into a meaningful dialogue without preconditions and with international involvement. It calls on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to enable effective and continuous international minority in Kosovo, and to facilitate the safe return of refugees and displaced persons, in agreement with the UNHCR and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
On 23 September, the Security Council decided to consider further action and additional measures to maintain or restore peace and stability in the region should the concrete measures demanded by the resolution not be taken. The Security Council is now considering the Secretary General's report.
The General Affairs Council at its meeting of 5 October underlined the urgency of full and immediate compliance with the terms of Resolution 1199. It called for an immediate end to violence and for the start of early negotiations with a view to a political solution of the crisis. The Council condemned in the strongest terms those responsible for the recent atrocities and called on the authorities in Belgrade immediately to investigate, identify and punish those responsible. It welcomed the initiative of the Presidency to send forensic experts to examine the killings of civilians in Kosovo. Ministers also expressed their determination to further increase the effectiveness of the existing EU sanctions regime, and to ensure that the EU makes the fullest possible contribution to the international community's pressure on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. With regard to this last commitment, I intend to pursue, in the EU, the strengthening of sanctions and the consideration of possible additional measures.
