Soviet and Yugoslav Republics (Hansard, 18 December 1991)

§ 23. Mr. Anderson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Yugoslavia.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The tragedy of Yugoslavia is one of my main preoccupations. We and our EC partners are devoting great effort to working for a settlement. We hope that the conditions necessary for the deployment of a United Nations peace-keeping force can be met soon. A long-term solution will be possible only when the Yugoslavs themselves show a genuine political will to reach a peaceful settlement.

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom will recognise Croatia and Slovenia.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
EC Foreign Ministers agreed on 16 December to recognise those Yugoslav republics which meet certain conditions. A final decision on implementation will be taken on 15 January after advice from the arbitration commission of Lord Carrington's conference on Yugoslavia.

§ 27. Mr. Bowis
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his current policy on recognition of the Soviet and Yugoslavian component republics as they seek or achieve independence.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
The republics of the Soviet Union continue to discuss among themselves their future relationships. We therefore have not yet taken decisions on recognition.
On Yugoslavia, we fear that recognition now would increase the danger of civil war spreading and undermine current international efforts to negotiate peace. This position is under constant review.

§ 33. Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the total number of casualties in Croatia.

§ Mr. Douglas Hogg
Conflicting reports and an absence of reliable independent sources mean that it is difficult to give precise figures for casualties in Croatia. Most estimates fall between 5,000 and 10,000 deaths.