§ 22. Sir Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the criteria taken into account in determining whether a nation should be recognised; and how this policy was operated in relationship to Croatia.
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§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe 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.