Central Treaty Organisation

HC Deb 14 February 1972 vol 831 cc17-8

15. Mr. Wilkinson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek an early meeting of Foreign Ministers of member nations of the Central Treaty Organisation.

Mr. Anthony Hoyle

No, Sir. Ministers of the CENTO countries are due to meet in London in May for the annual Ministerial Council. My right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary will be leading the British delegation.

Mr. Wilkinson

Does my hon. Friend believe that maintenance of an effective collective security system in the Middle East is of prime importance, as Soviet influence is growing in the Western Indian Ocean? In the course of the conference in May, will he try to ascertain from the Pakistan representatives what their attitude will be to the CENTO alliance since the change of Government in Pakistan?

Mr. Boyle

We agree that CENTO is extremely important and, as my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said in the House on 31st January, we hope that Pakistan will continue to be a member of the organisation.