§ Sir Russell JohnstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the European Community has to render economic assistance to the state of Macedonia; and what further consideration is being given to formal recognition of Macedonia by European Community members.
Mr. Douglas-HoggThe former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia already benefits from humanitarian and technical assistance under the EC's PHARE programme and also receives a share of the EC's humanitarian assistance for the former Yugoslavia as a whole. Mr. Robin O'Neill, as the Foreign Secretary's personal representative, has regularly visited Athens and Skopje in his mission to establish how the republic might be recognised in conformity with the terms of the Lisbon declaration of 27 June. He will shortly report to the Foreign Secretary.