§ Mr. ElletsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all planned military co-operation programmes, conferences and exchanges with the Russian armed forces.
§ Mr. SoamesThe United Kingdom's military co-operation with Russia is at present confined to three main areas.
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- a. To assist in the removal of nuclear warheads and intercontinental ballistic missiles from places of deployment to destruction sites, we are providing 20 armoured transport vehicles and 250 armoured containers. A meeting of the Anglo-Russian steering group, which oversees this project is scheduled to take place at the end of 1995.
- b. To UK has also offered modest assistance with the resettlement in civilian life of Russians leaving the armed forces. This would include training resettlement instructors, and equipping and maintaining a resettlement centre in Moscow for three years. Discussions on this proposal are continuing.
- c. To meet the obligations of arms control treaties and agreements, there is an ongoing programme of military contacts and inspections in which the UK participates.
Routine defence staff talks are planned to take place in London towards the end of 1995. A Russian hydrography ship will visit the UK in March. A Royal Navy ship will visit St. Petersburg in May, to help commemorate victory in Europe. Agreement has also been reached in principle to hold a joint UK-Russian exercise, but no firm plans have been made, and no dates set for this.