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Written Answers
5 FEBRUARY 1992
Douglas Hogg: The criteria are that a country should have a clearly defined territory with a population; a Government with a prospect of retaining control; and independence in its foreign relations. These criteria are always subject to interpretation in the light of circumstances on the ground. In this case we and our EC partners recognised Croatia on the basis of advice from the arbitration commission that Croatia largely fulfilled the guidelines on recognition adopted last December. These were that the state to be recognised should respect the United Nations charter; guarantee the rights of minorities; respect the inviolability of frontiers except by peaceful agreement; accept commitments on disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, security and regional stability; and promise to settle by agreement questions of state- succession and regional disputes. We also took account of additional undertakings from the Croatian Government on minorities legislation.
MED
Iran
23. Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights situation in Iran.
Mr. Douglas Hogg: We remain very concerned about the human rights situation in Iran. The reports of the United Nations special representative, Mr. Galindo Pohl, following his visits to Iran in 1990, contain ample evidence to justify these concerns. A further report, following his visit last December, is due to be presented to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. We shall study this report carefully together with the response made by the Iranian Government to the allegations contained in Mr. Pohl's earlier reports before deciding on further action.
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Hong Kong
02673.
24) Mr. Dunnachie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit Hong Kong to discuss the future of the colony.
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Mr. Lennox-Boyd: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no present plans to make a further visit to Hong Kong. But my noble Friend, Lord Caithness, Minister of State, hopes to visit the territory shortly.
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2004
32. Mr. James Lamond: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs' when he next plans discussions with the People's Republic of China on the future of Hong Kong.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd: It was agreed during the Prime Minister's visit to Peking in September 1991, that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs would meet the Chinese Foreign Minister at six-monthly intervals to discuss issues of mutual concern including Hong Kong. One purpose of these meetings will be to give added impetus to the detailed discussions on questions relating to the future of Hong Kong which takes place regularly in the Sino-British joint liaison group-
SED
Spain
25. Mr. Stanbrook: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the state of relations between the United Kingdom and Spain.
98 CW48/16 Job 4-6
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Written Answers
Relations between the United
Mr. Garel-Jones: Kingdom and Spain are very good.
CSAD
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South Africa
Mr. John Carlisle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what future initiatives Her Majesty's Government intend to pursue to further sporting relationships with South Africa.
Mrs. Chalker: I am glad that contacts with sport in South Africa are being restored, as sports there become racially integrated. We promoted this principle, on which there is now international consensus. Carrying it through is, and should be, a matter for the various sports bodies concerned.
MRS Departmental Annual Report
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual report is to be published this year.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office departmental report is to be published on 12 February.
SED
Turkey..
Ms. Primarolo: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had discussions with the Turkish Government about the treatment of Kurdish people living inside Turkey.
Mr. Garel-Jones: I last discussed this issue at my meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister on 20 December.
SEAD
East Timor
Mr. McAvoy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the consideration given by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to the situation in East Timor.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd: East Timor is on the agenda of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. On 30 January I spoke to the commission in Geneva on the theme of accountability for human rights violations. Those who have broken the law in East Timor should be brought to account. We shall work closely with our EC partners on appropriate action in the commission.
36. Mr. Bill Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the situation in East Timor.
4.
38. Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he intends to make to the Government of Indonesia following the publication of the report of the inquiry into the massacre of civilians at Dili, East Timor.
Mr. Lennox-Boyd: I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 30 January, Official Report, column 651.