Lloyd Axworthy

[Kosovo, April 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I certainly hope what the hon. leader of the Bloc Quebecois has said is true, that in fact it represents a sincere offering.

We do not know exactly where Draskovic sits within the hierarchy, but we will take any opportunity that exists to try to develop agreement. If there can be an agreement on the side of the Yugoslav government to the presence of an international force that will make sure refugees can return in full security then certainly we will be prepared to support that.

That is one of the reasons the Prime Minister asked me to visit Russia this week to see how we can also engage with the UN and with the Russians toward that objective.

[Kosovo, April 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as we said on several occasions, it is very important to get the United Nations involved in a conflict resolution process.

The UN secretary general will travel to Russia this week. I hope to have a meeting with the secretary general to ensure that there will be a partnership between the United Nations, NATO and the other partners to ensure that a there will be resolution from the security council.

[Kosovo, April 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I think I have now answered that question twice. I will do it a third time just so they will fully understand.

The reality is that at the present moment it was clearly assessed that major fuel supplies were leaking into Yugoslavia to support the ongoing repression the Serbian army is undertaking.

We have to stop that repression. We have to put the pressure on. In the meantime the Russians have indicated clearly in a series of exchanges that they are prepared to begin to look at helping to resolve the conflict. The two have to work together.

[Kosovo, April 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I just answered the hon. member's leader by saying that the importance of maintaining effective pressure on the Yugoslav government is also part of trying to get a resolution to the conflict. The two are connected.

We will do so. The planners at NATO have been asked to go back and look at all the options which will clearly take into account the military, the economic and the political ramifications. They will report back to our ambassadors probably by tomorrow or the next day. That will be taken into consideration in terms of the actual implementation.

What is important is to continue to maintain the pressure and to continue to maintain the dialogue.

[Kosovo, April 26th, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, clearly any effort to bring about a diplomatic resolution also depends on maintaining effective pressure upon the government in Yugoslavia.

It does not make a lot of sense at this point in time that we have a number of Canadian pilots risking their lives to stop fuel supplies from reaching the Serbian army in Kosovo, which are maiming and killing people, and at the same allow supplies to simply come in by boat. There is an attempt to balance the two.

The Prime Minister clearly said yesterday in his press conference that any effort on the seas would meet all the legal requirements and the diplomatic—

[Trade, April 22nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, the first thing I will tell them is that there was nothing in those regulations that prevents trade of defence products between the two countries. There are some new regulations being applied to govern the nature of those trades. We think they restrict against the exemptions that have been established for many years. The kind of fearmongering by the hon. member that all these contracts being lost is simply not the reality.

We will talk to the Americans to see if we can restore things to the status quo.

[Trade, April 22nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, as we know, the U.S. congress has been applying a number of very severe restrictions on the administration concerning the release of information and technology transfer. We have had serious negotiations going on over the last three or four months. In fact we have had previous discussions.

Last Friday it tabled some new regulations which applied the requirement for an export permit for which we have had exemptions up to now. We think that is not the right step to take. We think it will have an impact on both industries. That is why when I am in Washington I will have a discussion with Secretary of State Albright. I think that is the proper response.

[Kosovo, April 22nd, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is fair say that the refugee crisis really represents the heart of what we are trying to address in the Balkan region.

In addition to the humanitarian aid, I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has established missions in both Skopje and Tirana which include representatives of defence, foreign affairs and immigration. Their specific task is to work with the refugees coming across the border, to work with the countries that are accepting them and to see how they can provide assistance, stability and support in this very difficult time.

[Kosovo, April 21st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, I reported this to the House last week. This was a subject that was discussed at the ministerial meetings of NATO last week. I am sure the secretary general will have a report that he will be able to share with the leaders during the Washington summit.

I remind the hon. member that the position we have taken all along is that the most effective way to stop the suffering in Kosovo is to have the withdrawal of the Serbian troops and to stop the violence and atrocities so people can go back to their homes and once again live in dignity.

[International Trade, April 21st, 1999]

Mr. Speaker, when officials and ministers of the government deal with another country we speak for all Canadians, incluant les Québécois.