Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the hon. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
The grave events taking place in Kosovo have concerned the House for the last six months. The opposition has had every opportunity in a real way to contribute to the discussion and to the important decision making that has to be done. I find its complaints today to be absolutely groundless.
For example, on four occasions since last October the committee on foreign affairs and the committee on defence have met either jointly or separately to discuss the Kosovo issue. In addition there has been a series of detailed technical briefings by military and other officials. Even during the break, even while members were across the country in other locations, the committees came together a few days into the air campaign. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister for International Cooperation and I came before the committee to talk about Kosovo.
Moreover, the House has debated the situation on two occasions prior to today in February. On last February 17 we considered our participation with ground forces in terms of peacekeeping operations. Once an agreement had been reached we discussed the 600 to 800 Canadian troops that would be involved in that peacekeeping mission.
Furthermore it is important particularly to note today that last October 7 we discussed the very kind of air action that is in fact now ongoing. I can remember. I looked at the notes. There was full participation and an understanding of what was at stake was discussed at that time.
We still hoped for a diplomatic settlement, but everybody in the House knew the consequences last October if we did not get one. As a result of the threat of NATO air strikes, at that time Mr. Milosevic agreed with Richard Holbrooke of the United States, the special envoy, on a set of conditions by which we would then be able to prevent any kind of air strikes. However Mr. Milosevic, true to the form that we have seen in the past, did not live up to his word. He continually broke his promises.
Over the months that followed an ever increasing level of violence against the Kosovars and the steadfast refusal of the Yugoslav delegation at Rambouillet to negotiate in good faith left us with very little choice but to resort to military force. Even then we took several months trying to bring about this diplomatic resolution, but diplomacy had run its course. We were in a race against time as the number of atrocities grew by the hour.
I could quote a lot of the things that members of the House said on that occasion, but the essential point is that members of the House recognize the gravity of the humanitarian catastrophe looming on the horizon and the need to resort to military means if diplomacy fails. The debate last October demonstrated that the policy of the government and the will of the House were one and the same. Our current actions in Kosovo reflect that consensus reached last October 7 in the House.
I assure all Canadians that our objectives are clear. We seek the immediate end to violence in Kosovo; the complete withdrawal of the Yugoslav forces; the unconditional and safe return of all refugees, a million of them; the stationing in Kosovo of an international military presence; and the establishment of a political framework under which the Kosovars can be appropriately governed. Those are the five conditions that were further endorsed today in the foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.
The NATO air campaign is now in its 20th day. All hon. members are aware that Canada has now doubled its initial contribution of six CF-18s for a total of twelve. Some 220 personnel are stationed in Aviano: pilots, technicians and people in many other support roles, all doing excellent work for Canada. There are 100 people involved in the AWACS missions flying out of Germany.
The decision to do all this was taken following close consultation with our NATO allies and careful consideration of how the air operation would be conducted.
I can assure the House I have been in close contact with my NATO colleagues since the beginning of the crisis. Very recently I talked to my Italian and British counterparts, and on Saturday I met with Secretary Cohen in Whashington.
Later this week I will be going to Brussels where I will meet with senior NATO officials. NATO's intensified air operations and Canada's additional commitment of aircraft are not signs that the campaign is failing to deliver results. NATO is engaged in a very deliberate and carefully planned air operation. The first phase of that operation was designed to degrade and neutralize Yugoslav's air defences. NATO has flown thousands of sorties, with only one aircraft loss.
The second phase of the operation began in the midst of the current campaign and it, along with the continued pressure on air defence, meant striking hard at the Yugoslav forces in Kosovo, the very people and the equipment that were inflicting the atrocities on the Kosovo population. Mr. Milosevic is doing everything he can to hide his forces and allude NATO aircraft.
Two conclusions should be drawn from these actions. First, our air campaign is having the intended effect. Second, we are reducing and weakening the capability of the Yugoslav forces to inflict their evil on the people of Kosovo.
Outside of Kosovo, NATO forces are striking at vital Yugoslav military infrastructure and other assets that allow his army and police forces to operate. In the space of these 20 days we have destroyed 50% of Yugoslavia's fuel reserves and have reduced its capacity to refine the remaining oil. As each day passes the price that Mr. Milosevic is paying for his hideous actions in Kosovo is rising and his military capability is diminishing.
This has always been our military objective and we are succeeding, but everyone must understand that it will take time to see this operation to its conclusion. A crisis of this dimension, a human catastrophe of this magnitude, cannot be solved in a few days or weeks. The important moments in human affairs are not for the impatient or for those with feeble convictions.
In addition to our military contribution to NATO, the Canadian forces are taking an active part in addressing the humanitarian tragedy that has resulted from the gruesome actions of the Yugoslav government.
We deployed two Hercules aircraft in Europe to help officials with the world food program to deliver much needed food supplies.
This follows the delivery of blankets last week by CF aircraft. Canadian forces bases are available for refugees if that should prove necessary.
The Canadian forces are playing an important role in NATO's military and humanitarian operations. The men and women who proudly wear the Canadian uniform are once again putting the moral convictions of Canadians into action. They are on the front line. They are facing the dangers and the challenges of a military operation.
Let there be no doubt where this government stands. It is not only the Canadian forces' operation, it is the will of this Canadian government. It is the will of our 18 NATO allies that have committed to this cause. We stand by our allies. As a nation Canada has always lived by certain international principles regarding peace, security and human rights. We stand by them as well.
