§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that the proposed extension of NATO eastwards may have the effect of encouraging fascist and militarist elements within Russia, and, if so, what political or military interest of the United Kingdom and of other European members of NATO will be served.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyNATO enlargement will threaten no one. NATO's purpose is to provide security for its members and to preserve peace in the Euro-Atlantic area. This should be understood by all Russians.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the proposed extension eastwards of NATO is endorsed by all members of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe; if not, whether it is their intention that it should be; and if not, why not.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyParagraph 11 of Article IV of the OSCE' s Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security agreed at the CSCE Budapest Summit last December states that "The participating States have the sovereign right to belong or 13WA not to belong to international organisations, and to be or not to be a party to bilateral or multilateral treaties, including treaties of alliance; they also have the right to neutrality. Each has the right to change its status in this respect, subject to relevant agreements and procedures. Each will respect the rights of all others in this regard".
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What political or military response they expected from Russia when it was first proposed to extend the NATO frontier to the east.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyNATO made it clear in its summit communiqué in January 1994 that it is committed to enhancing security and stability in the whole of Europe, and that it therefore wishes to strengthen ties with the democratic states to its east. This includes Russia.
The North Atlantic Council Ministerial communiqué of 1 December 1994 stressed that NATO enlargement, when it comes, would be part of a broad European security architecture based on true co-operation throughout the whole of Europe. It would, moreover, threaten no one.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the question of a new military frontier in Europe will be put to the electorates of the European Union before conclusive steps are taken to establish such a division by the extension of NATO eastwards.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyNo. The enlargement of NATO is a matter for the member states of the Alliance alone. The aim of NATO enlargement is not to create new divisions or erect new military frontiers in Europe, but to extend security and stability throughout the continent.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the proposed extension eastwards of NATO is intended to demonstrate the United States' and NATO's "victory" in the cold war.