Written question asked by Lord Laird (Ulster Unionist Party), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Wednesday, 2 February 2011.

Diplomatic Missions: State Recognition

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 16 December 2010 (WA 209) about the recognition of the Vatican City, what are the normal criteria for recognition; which conditions were met by the Vatican City; and which were not.

Answer: The normal criteria for recognition of a state are set out in the Written Answer by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Official Report, Commons, 16/11/1989; col. 494) noted below for ease of reference: "““The normal criteria that we apply for recognition as a state are that it should have, and seem likely to continue to have, a clearly defined territory with a population, a Government who are able of themselves to exercise effective control of that territory, and independence in their external relations. Other factors, including some United Nations resolutions, may also be relevant””." The Vatican City meets all of these criteria.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 6228; 724 c266WA
Session: 2010-12
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Subjects: Recognition of states Vatican
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk