HL Deb 24 April 1985 vol 462 cc1118-20

2.45 p.m.

Lord Davies of Leek

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether steps have now been taken to establish diplomatic relations with Albania.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces (Lord Trefgarne)

My Lords, in 1980 we formally notified the Albanian Government that we were ready to re-establish diplomatic relations without preconditions. Regrettably, the Albanians have not accepted this offer which, as we have made clear, remains open.

Lord Davies of Leek

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord because the Answer indicates some progress. Nevertheless, would he not agree that the entire problem of Albania has been obfuscated by the arrogant policy of our Foreign Office? It was not Albania which laid out those mines that destroyed the ships in the Corfu Channel in 1946. Now it seems to me that a diplomatic approach might be indicated, which would be worthwhile for the future and might bring us to some complaisant understanding, since Albania is the only European country that does not have diplomatic representation from Britain.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, it is a matter of regret that we have been unable to establish diplomatic relations with Albania. But, as I have explained, the objections come from the Albanian side and not from Her Majesty's Government. The Albanian Government have made it clear that they are not prepared to enter into relations with the United Kingdom until the quantity of gold (currently in the control of the Tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold) to which they have laid claim, is delivered to them.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the Corfu Channel case went to the International Court of Justice at The Hague, and there Albania was found to be responsible for those mines, whoever had laid them for the Albanian Government? I should mention also that the noble and learned Lord, Lord Wilberforce, was one of the counsel who represented Britain in that successful case. Is my noble friend aware also that the late Enver Hoxha did not make it at all easy for British Governments to improve relations during a period of over 40 years? Has my noble friend seen any sign recently of a change in the attitude of Albania under the new regime?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I am afraid we have not yet seen any sign of a change of policy by the Albanian Government; but this is early days and perhaps we shall in the future. We hope so. My noble friend is quite right to point out that the International Court at The Hague found in our favour in regard to the Corfu Channel incident.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, has there been any contact between Her Majesty's Government and the Albanian Government since the death of Mr. Enver Hoxha? Secondly, is the question of the gold now negotiable, and could he say what is its present value?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I am not aware of any contact between the British Government and the Albanian Government since the death of Mr. Hoxha. He was not in fact President; the President of Albania at that time was the man who has now succeeded to the leadership of the party in Albania. That was the post that Mr. Hoxha held up to the time of his death.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, would the noble Lord be good enough to answer my question about the gold? The gold has been the bar to diplomatic relations for very many years, as he knows. Can he now answer my question and say whether, in the view of Her Majesty's Government, the gold is now negotiable? Also, can he give us the value of the gold at the present time?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I am afraid that I do not have the current value available to give to the noble Lord; but it is quite a substantial sum. As for the gold being negotiable, I should make it clear that the United Kingdom is not a totally free agent in this matter because we are of course only one member of the tripartite commission which controls the gold. The other members are the French and the United States. Before anything can happen to it, we have to have the agreement of all three of those parties.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, are the Government proposing to call a meeting of the tripartite commission?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, there are, I believe, meetings of the commission from time to time, but there are a number of difficult problems to be resolved.

Lord Avebury

My Lords, is the Minister aware that a Minister has given it to me in writing that the French and the Americans have both renounced their claim on this gold? Therefore, would the Government explore the notion that we should withhold only that amount of the gold which would be necessary to satisfy the claim which was awarded to us by the International Court?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I am not aware that the other governments have disclaimed any ownership of the gold or any claim to it. But then, of course, I cannot speak for either the French Government or the United States Government.

Lord Paget of Northampton

My Lords, might it not be desirable to postpone this statement until after Albania has had her next revolution?