§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is towards the recognition of(a) de jure and (b) de facto regimes; and to what extent that policy has changed since May 1997. [8514]
§ Mr. BradshawSince 1980, it has been HMG's policy to recognise states, not governments. As set out in Lord Carrington's statement of 23 May 1980 where a new regime comes to power, whether it qualifies to be treated as a government will be left to be inferred from the nature of the dealings, if any, which we may have with it and, in particular, on whether we are dealing with it on a normal government-to-government basis.