Riga: Shootings (Hansard, 28 January 1991)

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, we have condemned the killings and made strong representations to the Soviet authorities. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary summoned the Soviet chargé d'affaires on 21st January to underline our concern and to repeat our call on the Soviet authorities to withdraw their troops and to negotiate seriously with the elected authorities of the Baltic states.

§ Lord Hylton
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer. Does he not find quite unacceptable the combination of 19 deaths, the beating of Lithuanian soldiers in the presence of arrested British journalists, and the new, additional powers for the KGB? Will the Government press for compensation to be paid to the families of those killed and injured?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, we deeply deplore the actions of the Soviet troops in Riga and the tragic consequences. We call on the Soviet authorities to refrain from further coercion or repressive measures. Compensation is a matter for the Soviet authorities.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, everyone agrees that the way to resolve the problem is through negotiation. In view of the meeting which is to be held between the Soviet Foreign Minister and Secretary of State James Baker, can the noble Lord confirm that Her Majesty's Government are in touch with the United States Administration on the issue? Can he say whether we are also in touch with our colleagues, our partners in the European Community, with a view to making representations directly to President Gorbachev and no one else?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, I entirely agree with the first point made by the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition. We encourage all concerned to put every possible effort into working for a negotiated settlement. As regards consultations with our partners, we and our partners in the European Community decided to suspend implementation of a major part of our co-operation with the Soviet Union in response to the use of force in the Baltic states.

§ Lord Kennet
My Lords, can the noble Lord say anything about an apparent contradiction in our policy which may cause trouble? On the one hand we, in common with many other countries, never recognised the absorption of the Baltic states into the Soviet Union. On the other hand, we have just signed a treaty, which was also signed by the Soviet Union, stating that borders in Europe may not be changed except by consent. The question arises: whose consent? If the Baltic states were to turn to us and say, "Our consent is sufficient to change the border of the Soviet Union", what shall we say?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, the noble Lord raises a question that goes wider than the Question on the Order Paper. We support the right of the Baltic peoples to determine their own future. We call on both leaderships to reach a negotiated settlement.

§ Lord Hailsham of Saint Marylebone
My Lords, can my noble friend confirm my recollection that originally the three Baltic states were forcibly incorporated and as a direct result of the Stalin-Hitler pact? We have never recognised that incorporation.

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, I believe that my noble and learned friend is entirely correct.

§ Lord Stoddart of Swindon
My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that it would be unfortunate if, as a result of the actions of the Soviet Union in the Baltic states, the summit meeting next month did not go ahead or is misunderstood and perhaps affects our operations in the Gulf? Are Her Majesty's Government making any representations to Mr. Bush that he should continue with the summit?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, I do not have the answer to that question. I shall look into it and let the noble Lord know the position.

§ Lord Hylton
My Lords, negotiations have been mentioned both today and last Thursday. Do the Government recognise that negotiations between the Baltic states and the USSR are not negotiations between equals? Will the Government therefore press for the withdrawal of Soviet forces and for a status for the Baltic republics somewhat similar to that of Finland?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, as I said, we have called on the Soviet authorities to refrain from coercion or repressive measures. I do not believe that I can go further than that. As to the outcome of any settlement, it is not for us to make any pronouncements on that.

§ Lord Renton
My Lords, do the Government accept that until 1939 these three small countries were democratic, economically viable, neutral and the people in them happy? Is it the Government's intention to do whatever is within their limited power to restore that fortunate situation?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, we are doing everything possible to bring pressure to make sure that there is a negotiated outcome.

§ Lord Jenkins of Putney
My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that fascism and anti-semitism were rife in the Baltic states and there are currently signs of a recurrence?

§ Lord Reay
My Lords, that is another Question.