HC Deb 19 March 1990 vol 169 cc449-50W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government recognise the declaration of political independence by the new Parliament of Lithuania.

Mr. Waldegrave

The well-established criteria which we have applied to the recognition of a state are that it should have, and seem likely to continue to have, a clearly defined territory with a population, a Government who are able of themselves to exercise control of that territory, and independence in their external relations. We will therefore continue to watch the situation closely as it develops.