HC Deb 17 March 1993 vol 221 cc254-5W
Sir John Hunt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the proposal in recommendation 528 of the assembly of the Western European Union to invite the central European countries to observe exercises co-ordinated by the Western European Union planning cell.

Mr. Garel-Jones

We note the suggestion made by the assembly of the Western European Union, and will consider it in due course. There is some way to go before the WEU is ready to conduct exercises.

Sir John Hunt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has to ensure that an agreement between NATO and the Western European Union is so framed as to avoid duplication.

Mr. Garel-Jones

The modalities of the relationship between the Western European Union and the Atlantic alliance were set out in the declaration by WEU Heads of State and Government at Maastricht on 10 December 1991. Both NATO and the WEU have since agreed documents proposing guidelines for the practical working relations between the two organisations. The arrangements aim to ensure complementarity and transparency, not duplication, between the organisations.

Sir John Hunt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support recommendation 532 of the Assembly of Western European Union on the need for member states of the Western European Union to co-ordinate policy on export of military equipment, end-distination controls on exports of jointly-produced equipment and the requirement to notify such exports to the United Nations register of international arms transfers; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Garel-Jones

We are already working with our Western European Union partners, in the context of European political co-operation, for greater harmonisation and information exchange in national procedures on arms exports, including licensing procedures and procedures to ensure control of end use. We intend to notify the United Nations of all imports and exports covered by the United Nations register.

Sir John Hunt

To ask the Secretary of state for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support recommendation 531 of the Assembly of Western European Union for the Western European Union Council to draw up plans for military operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Mr. Garel-Jones

We share the Western European Union assembly's concern at the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. We have supported WEU actions and contingency planning on Yugoslavia on the basis that it takes account of the requirements of the situation, the availability of resources, and planning in other organisations such as NATO.