Briefing from the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman on: Kosovo and Anti-Terrorism Act/M.
Kosovo
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman (PMOS) updated journalists on the issue of British troop deployments to Kosovo. Since there were some formal Parliamentary matters which we had been unable to address in time in terms of Written Ministerial Statements, Geoff Hoon had written today to his Opposition counterparts and the Chair of the Defence Select Committee informing them of the request from NATO for the deployment of the Operational Reserve Force. The responsibility for that role rotated between the UK, US, Germany and Italy. At the moment it rested with the UK. The MoD had said that we would be deploying the UK Ready Battalion, currently the Spearhead Land Element provided by the First Battalion of the Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment. As part of the NATO force, there were currently 260 Fusiliers in Kosovo. Asked how many troops would be sent, the PMOS said that we were still in discussion with NATO about precise numbers. The Operational Readiness Force was a high capability reserve force of 750 individuals. The approximate number he had given this morning was around the 500 mark, but we would have to see. Asked if these troops were on constant standby, the PMOS said that this was a dedicated reserve force for the Balkans. The troops could be deployed to theatre within four days if required. Clearly they were in a high state of readiness to respond to any escalation. Their presence had not been requested over the past few years. However, in the light of recent events in Mitrovica, the situation had obviously changed. Asked if the troops were currently UK-based, the PMOS said yes.
Asked if there was any concern about military overstretch, the PMOS said that the Government took its peacekeeping responsibilities in Kosovo seriously. It went without saying that we would deploy additional forces mindful of our responsibilities elsewhere in the world.
Asked if there was any evidence to support suggestions that Islamic extremists might be orchestrating the violence in Kosovo, the PMOS said not as far as he was aware. As he understood it, the problems had centred around a series of events in Mitrovica, which had been widely reported. These had clearly inflamed more widely some of the ethnic rivalries between Albanians and Serbs which had been dormant for the past few months.
Asked if we had asked Italy to swap places on the rota for the Operational Reserve Force in the light of our other military commitments abroad, the PMOS said he wasn’t aware of any bargaining having taken place. Geoff Hoon had received the request from NATO this morning. He had immediately told Cabinet that the Chief of Defence Staff was currently considering it in consultation with colleagues at the MoD and that we were minded to say yes to it.
Anti-Terrorism Act/’M’
Asked for a reaction to the Court of Appeal judgement today overturning the appeal by the Home Secretary against SIAC’s ruling to release "M" from Belmarsh, the PMOS said that we accepted the judgement. He pointed out that twelve out of thirteen appeals had been won by the Government. "M" was obviously the exception. That rounded picture showed that the law had been worthwhile and useful and that the Home Secretary had used his powers appropriately and proportionately. When these powers had been enacted, we had wanted to ensure that there was a robust system which would allow for due legal scrutiny of the decisions and certifications made by the Home Secretary. That was why the courts had been given the power to overturn the decisions made by him. That had obviously happened today and we accepted it.
Asked if the Prime Minister believed that "M" remained a danger to the UK, the PMOS said that he had no intention of commenting on individual cases. A judgement had been made today and we accepted it. Pressed as to whether there was an increased security threat in the light of the ruling, the PMOS repeated that we accepted the judgement. The level of interest and due concern expressed by certain quarters in Westminster at the time the powers had been taken supported our view from the outset that courts should have the power to scrutinise the Home Secretary’s decisions. Asked if the Government continued to stand by its opinion that "M" posed a security risk to the UK, the PMOS repeated that he was not going to comment on individual cases. Positions were set out in court by both sides and judgements were reached by those who were given responsibility to make them. That was what had happened today.
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