HL Deb 04 February 1991 vol 525 cc875-6

2.50 p.m.

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are continuing to press the USSR to withdraw its armed forces from the three Baltic republics.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (The Earl of Caithness)

My Lords, yes.

Lord Hylton

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his laconic answer. I should also like to thank the Government for the actions that they have taken. Together with those of other governments they have been helpful. Does the Minister agree that there is still a need to press for self-determination and for the withdrawal of Soviet forces, which are often ill disciplined and lend themselves to acts of provocation?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, we shall continue to press this matter. We welcome the fact that the Soviet Government are sending delegations to the three Baltic capitals. As I have said on more than one occasion in your Lordships' House, we very much hope that negotiation will be the way forward.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, can the noble Earl confirm that this problem will be on the agenda of the current foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels? Can he say whether Her Majesty's Government have any specific proposal to put to that meeting? Can he also say whether President Gorbachev has set up a commission to seek to negotiate with the leaders of the three Baltic states? If so, does he agree that that too is an encouraging step forward? Is it possible that either Her Majesty's Government or a representative acting on behalf of the Community might seek to hold a meeting with President Gorbachev to make clear the view of the Community about the violence which has taken place in the two Baltic states?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I can confirm to the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition that the question of the Baltic republics is on the agenda of today's foreign affairs council. As a result of that and the action that the Community has already taken, I am sure that messages will be passed to the appropriate bodies and to Moscow. We continue to keep in touch on a regular basis. I agree with the noble Lord that the fact that there will be delegations to the three Baltic states will mean, we hope, further progress toward a peaceful solution of this problem.

Lord Orr-Ewing

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that recent signals intercepts have suggested that Russian military forces up to 2,000 in strength are still being employed in aid of Iraq and in recent operational intercepts in tank battles Russian commanders were taking a very active part? Could the pressure extend to that activity as well as to the desperately bad and poor activity in the Baltic republics?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, that is a slightly different Question, but I note my noble friend's point.

Lord Grimond

My Lords, are the Government aware of exactly what the consultations that are taking placing between the Soviet Government and the three republics cover? Is independence on the agenda or is it merely a question of the position they will occupy within the Soviet empire?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, so far as the British Government are concerned, the legal position with regard to the three Baltic states is well known to your Lordships following earlier Questions. It is for the parties concerned—the three Baltic states and Moscow—to sort out exactly what will be the future.

Lord Jenkins of Putney

My Lords, is there a difference in the Government's attitude to each of the three Baltic states or do they take an identical view concerning each one?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I was referring to the legal position.

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