HC Deb 27 July 1999 vol 336 c382W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom will continue to recognise Mr. Lukashenko as President of Belarus after the expiry of his constitutional term on 27 July; and if he will make a statement. [92805]

Ms Quin

We recognise states rather than Governments. Therefore the question of recognition of President Lukashenko does not arise. In its declaration of 20 July, the EU made clear its view that President Lukashenko's mandate under the 1994 Constitution expired on that day.