To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the security situation in the Balkans with the Secretary of State for Defence; and if he will make a statement. (170330)

I maintain regular contacts with my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary about the security situation in the Balkans. We believe that every effort should be made to resolve issues in the region politically. The UK remains fully committed to safeguarding the region's security and contributes to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO) deployment in Kosovo, KFOR, and the EU's forces in Bosnia, EUFOR. We continue to work intensively with our EU and NATO partners to deliver peaceful progress towards Euro and Euro-Atlantic integration for the whole Balkan region.