Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead (Labour) on Wednesday, 4 November 2009.

Somalia

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria were used in the decisions to recognise the independence of Eritrea, East Timor and Kosovo; whether those criteria will apply to Somaliland; and whether they will raise the matter in the European Union with a view to gaining agreement on the recognition of Somaliland's independence.

Answer: The general criteria that we apply for recognition of an independent state remain as described in the Written Answer dated 16 November 1989 (Official Report, col. 494) by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The UK has signed up to an EU common position, and to many UN Security Council resolutions, which refer to the territorial integrity and unity of Somalia. The Government do not propose to raise this issue in the EU.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 714 c71WA; 5956
Session: 2008-09
Related items: {value: 93522, field_name: "type_ses"}
Thursday, 16 November 1989
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Recognition of states Sovereignty Kosovo Eritrea Somaliland Timor-Leste
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk