Address during a House of Commons Debate on Kosovo

As honourable members will know, our government has pledged to keep the House -- and the people of Canada -- fully up to date on the scope and nature of Canada's involvement in the humanitarian crisis in Kosovo. There have been regular briefings of members of Parliament as well as full discussion in Question Period and during debates.

The House will remember that prior to commencing military action against the government of Slobodan Milosevic, NATO had drawn up plans to deploy an international force to Kosovo. To ensure the fair implementation of a just peace in that troubled province. Members will also remember that in February they debated Canadian participation in such a force. There was broad support across party lines.

I now rise to inform the House that Canada has received a formal request from NATO to initiate the deployment of our portion of the peace implementation force to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Today, we intend to inform NATO that the government agrees to this request.

My colleague the Minister of National Defence will provide the specific details and timetable for this deployment. These troops -- some 800 in total -- will join 12,000 NATO troops who have already been pre-positioned in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to move into Kosovo as part of a peace settlement.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to assure honourable members that the purpose of this deployment does not extend beyond what has already been debated in this House. The sole purpose is to support the principal objective that Canada, and all of our NATO allies, have pursued for many years in Kosovo: a fair and just peace. One that allows the people of Kosovo, once again, to live in peace and security. That ensures that the machinery of repression and atrocities is gone. And that they can safely return to their rightful homes.

It is a matter of great pride to me, as Prime Minister, that members from all sides have spoken out with eloquence in favour of these principles. And have endorsed a role for Canada in enforcing them. As a body we have given voice to values that our people hold so dear: tolerance and justice.

As Canadians also know, the government, together with our NATO allies, is also involved in seeking a diplomatic resolution to this crisis. That is why the Minister of Foreign Affairs is travelling this week to Moscow to meet with Russian officials and the Secretary General of the United Nations.

I am confident that the military and diplomatic course that NATO is pursuing will, over time, bring a just end to the crisis.

But, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to assure all members that if there is a NATO request to deploy Canadian troops in combat, the House will be consulted before any final decision is taken.