HC Deb 03 April 1990 vol 170 c529W
Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contacts Her Majesty's Government have had with the Lithuanian Government of Mr. Landbergis.

Mr. Waldegrave

None. Our criteria for recognition of a state were set out in an answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 19 March.

Mr. Alton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations Her Majesty's Ambassador has made to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics regarding their present policy in Lithuania.

Mr. Waldegrave

We have recently taken a number of opportunities to make our concerns known to the Soviet Union.

We have emphasised that it is vital that progress should be made through dialogue between the Soviet authorities and the Lithuanians, and that a settlement should be reached which is acceptable to both sides and which enables the Lithuanian people to decide their own future. We have stressed the need for restraint on all sides.