§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protests Her Majesty's Government have made to the Croatian representative in London regarding the recruitment of British mercenaries; what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to discourage British citizens from joining Croatian forces; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggWe have no evidence that the Croatian Government are involved in recruiting British citizens as mercenaries; no such protest has therefore been made. In certain circumstances it is an offence, under the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870, for a British citizen to enlist in the armed forces of a foreign state. The decision whether to investigate, or to prosecute, any alleged offender is a matter for the police and for the prosecuting authorities respectively. Our consular travel advice strongly advises British citizens not to travel to the regions of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, including parts of Croatia.