§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether "recent … initiatives designed to foster co-operation" between NATO member states, including particularly the "European Pillar" states, is to include, "research, development, production and procurement" of equipment to enable those countries to verify Soviet compliance with arms control agreements, and if not why not.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur)There have been no specific initiatives in this area but we would not exclude such co-operation in the future. Any co-operation would depend on the specific nature of the verification regime agreed for each arms control agreement and the obligations assumed by the Soviet Union in relation to the European states.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether within the "further development of a comprehensive concept of arms control and disarmament", referred to in the declaration of the NATO Heads of State and Government of March 1988, consideration is being given to the need for the "European Pillar" member states to participate in the verification of arms control agreements relating to Europe.
§ Lord GlenarthurNATO has always emphasised the importance of securing an effective verification regime tailored to meet the specific provisions of each arms control agreement. This will continue to be a major consideration in alliance discussions of arms control. European members of the alliance participate in the verification of existing arms control agreements to which they are parties, such as the provisions for inspections in the Stockholm Document. They will continue to do so in any such future agreements.