§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of loan applications from Panama to international banking agencies upon which the United Kingdom is represented; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is for the management of the multilateral development banks in the first instance to consider and appraise such applications. It is our policy to consider loan proposals on their technical and economic merits in accordance with the articles of the organisations concerned.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests have been received from the Panamanian authorities for antiterrorist training in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. EggarAs a matter of standard practice, any such request from a foreign Government would be treated as confidential.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects that742W Her Majesty's Government will acknowledge acting President Palma as the new head of state of Panama; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarWe recognise states, not Governments, in accordance with common international doctrine. The question of acknowledgement does not therefore arise. The European Community issued a statement on 2 March expressing deep concern at recent developments in Panama and appealing to the present rulers of Panama to open the way for internal peace and democracy.