Relations with Unconstitutional Regimes: Policy

HL Deb 12 January 1998 vol 584 c125WA

Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether their policy on dealing with regimes which came into power unconstitutionally remains as stated by Lord Carrington on 28 April 1980 (HL Deb, cols. 1121–1122).

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

It does. We recognise states, not governments. We decide the nature of our dealings with regimes which come to power unconstitutionally in the light of our assessment of whether they are able of themselves to exercise effective control of the territory of the state concerned, and seem likely to continue to do so.