§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government towards any expansion by Russia against republics that used to belong to the former Soviet Union; and if economic assistance towards Russia is dependent on full compliance with constitutional norms internally.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe, along with the international community, recognised as independent and sovereign the964W countries of the former Soviet Union when it broke up in 1991. The Russian Government did likewise. We have no reason to suppose that President Yeltsin intends to call that into question: the British Government would take very seriously any change in policy. We have provided economic assitance to Russia in support of democratic and economic reforms and will continue to do so on that basis. We are pleased that the Russian people have endorsed a new constitution providing a democratic framework and guaranteeing human rights.