HL Deb 16 December 1993 vol 550 cc1453-6

3.8 p.m.

Lord Belhaven and Stenton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the report in the Daily Telegraph of 3rd December relating to the admission to NATO of countries in central Europe where a "British source" is reported as saying that "there are certain areas where the Russians have a particular interest" is accurate and, if so, what the British source is and what areas are indicated by this statement.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)

My Lords, the Daily Telegraph report on 3rd December misrepresented the outcome of the North Atlantic Council meeting of 2nd December. I cannot speculate on the identity of the "British source" quoted. I can confirm to my noble friend that we and our NATO allies recognise the importance of enhancing relations with Russia if the alliance is to be successful in promoting stability and security throughout Europe. We have no wish to resurrect the barriers of the cold war or create new divisions within the European continent. A future NATO summit will decide on the shape of the new relationship.

Lord Belhaven and Stenton

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Can she confirm that Her Majesty's Government recognise the independence of the former Soviet republics and the former satellites or does she think that circumstances may compromise that independence and that Russia has a right to take advantage of such circumstances? In view of the recent Russian elections, is my noble friend aware of the deep anxiety and, indeed, fear felt by Poland and all of Russia's neighbours that Russia could expand into their territories again? Are there any plans to give more concrete guarantees of security to the democracies in central Europe?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, the full Russian results are not yet in. It looks as if Mr. Zhirinovsky and his fellows will gain no more than a quarter of all the votes once they are fully counted. I think that they are very unlikely to dominate foreign policy. Under the new constitution, we would expect Russian decisions to follow very similarly the lines of those taken before the election, but we are obviously keen that the total independence of the former Soviet satellites should be safeguarded. I do not believe that their future is compromised. In view of the elections, I am sure that the NATO discussions in January, the WEU discussions and the EC association agreements will ensure that that independence is safeguarded.

Lord Wyatt of Weeford

My Lords, despite the noble Baroness's complacency about the results of the Russian elections, does she not remember that Hitler began in much the same way as the leader of that important party which is now winning votes in Russia? Is it not time to tear up the foolish Options for Change which assumed a peace dividend requiring us to reduce our defence forces when, obviously, now is the time to do exactly the opposite?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, I can assure the noble Lord that the Government are in no way complacent about the matter. We are planning to thicken the relationship between NATO and the countries of the former Soviet Union and the former Soviet bloc. In any event, the concept of a partnership for peace that has been initiated is something to be developed. We certainly will not deny the need to keep a very watchful eye on what happens to those former communist countries which now want their independence and a full place in the democracies of Europe.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, in view of the Minister's penultimate answer, which, if I may say so, was very sensible, does she not agree that any move to suck the central and eastern European new democracies into the western military system may tend to hasten rather than prevent the Russian will to suck them back into the Russian military system?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, I am always concerned when the noble Lord, Lord Kennet, and I seem to agree. That aside, I am quite sure that the now independent nations are determined to stay that way. All NATO and WEU members are determined to help them to stay that way. We should be very careful not to make any false moves which might excite the expectations of extremists in Russia.

Lord Mayhew

My Lords, does the Minister nevertheless agree that the election results have major implications for NATO planning not only in relation to our handling of those central and eastern Europeans but also in our calculations of warning times? Can the Minister say what special studies have been started in NATO leading up to the summit so that there can be a review of the important changes in Russia?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, we should be cautious about jumping to conclusions. As I said, figures for the Russian parliamentary polls are still coming in. It seems that the reformist groups may yet be the largest bloc in the Duma. I note that the communists have already publicly distanced themselves from Zhirinovsky although they may co-operate to block the reformists' legislation. Nevertheless, we do believe that the foundation fur a democratic society is enshrined in the new constitution. Of course, we are also putting work in hand for the NATO summit in January.

Lord Renton

My Lords, as events unfold and policy develops, will the special and rather vulnerable position of the Baltic states be kept at the forefront of the Government's mind?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, yes.

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, does the Minister not agree that in the light of the very worrying Russian election results, the former Warsaw Pact countries of central and eastern Europe will be increasingly anxious about their security position? In view of that, can she tell the House what line the Government will be taking at the NATO summit in January on the proposals for a partnership for peace in order to make those proposals meaningful for the former Warsaw Pact countries in central and eastern Europe?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, as the noble Baroness knows, the partnership for peace places emphasis on practical military co-operation between NATO and the countries of the former Warsaw Pact. We believe that the partnership for peace will form the basis of the discussion and we hope for a much more open relationship with those countries than was previously possible. But that is all for the NATO summit in January.

Lord Beloff

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that pending NATO's consideration of the security situation, it may be helpful in reassuring the countries of central Europe if their economic position received greater attention and if the European Union, as it styles itself, stopped interfering with their export of goods—exports on which they rely to make their living?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, I agree with my noble friend that there should not be any interference. That is why we can rejoice in the outcome of the GATT round. I believe that the resources that the countries of the European Union are devoting to the development of those markets and to commercially oriented countries such as Poland will shortly become clear.

Baroness Seear

My Lords, does the Minister agree that, from the sound of her voice, she ought to be at home in bed with a good, strong whisky toddy?

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

My Lords, I appreciate the thought and I am most graceful to the product of the Scotch whisky distillers who last night came to the same conclusion and gave me the wherewithal.