Friday, June 4, 1999 Published at 11:33 GMT 12:33 UK
Milosevic 'must stand trial'
Nato says it did not seek President Milosevic's overthrow
The UK insists the Kosovo peace deal has not reduced its determination to have the Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic tried for alleged war crimes.
Preparations are also under way to implement other key parts of the peace agreement.
A further 4,000 UK troops, including mine clearance experts, are being put on standby to join the forces waiting in Macedonia to help the refugees return home.
But Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said President Milosevic would not be "let off the hook" for his ethnic cleansing, despite rising hopes of an end to the conflict.
Speaking at the European Union summit in Cologne, he said the possibility of an amnesty or immunity had not even been raised by either side in the peace negotiations.
"What we are quite clear about is that as an indicted war criminal like other indicted war criminals he has to face justice. He has to stand trial," Mr Cook said.
"There can be no lasting peace and settlement in Kosovo without justice against those who carried out the atrocities in Kosovo."
Prime Minister Tony Blair agreed there could be no question of Mr Milosevic being granted immunity, even if the peace deal was fully implemented.
The lst Battalion of the Parachute Regiment had been ordered to Macedonia to take part in a Kosovo peacekeeping force, Mr Blair revealed at the end of the summit.
"When we begin that process of going back into Kosovo and we find what has happened and we have a clear picture of what has been done, how many people have disappeared, died, been subject to brutality and barbarity, then we shall have ample evidence of the policies of Milosevic and the evils of ethnic cleansing," he said.
While insisting that Nato had never made President Milosevic's removal from office one of its aims, Mr Blair, said it would clearly be in Serbia's interests if he did go.
While other countries in the region would receive EU funding to rebuild after the conflict, Serbia would be denied such help while Mr Milosevic remained in power, he added.
Serb withdrawal discussed
Mr Cook said the air campaign would go on until Mr Milosevic kept his word and pulled his forces out of Kosovo.
"We are not going to settle for promises from President Milosevic we need to see action," he said.
Air Marshall, Sir John Day, speaking at the daily Ministry of Defence briefing said RAF harriers had flown 20 missions on Thursday and had hit "as many targets in Kosovo as I can ever recall us striking".
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