§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they and the other European members of NATO briefed Vice President Gore preparatory to his recent discussions on relations between the NATO Alliance and Russia with Prime Minister Chernomyrdin; and Secretary of State Albright before her recent visits to Eastern Europe and Moscow; and whether they will brief President Clinton before he meets President Yeltsin in March, and, if so, to what effect.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyWe maintain a close dialogue with the United States government on132WA NATO matters through the meetings of the North Atlantic Council in Brussels and bilaterally.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have agreed that US Secretary of State Albright should be committing NATO to negotiations with the Russian Government on a "charter" not to be submitted to NATO member states' parliaments or the US Senate which would not be legally binding on any of the signatories; and whether, to their knowledge, such a charter would be in any way binding on any US Administration other than President Clinton's.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe form and content of a future NATO/Russia agreement are matters for negotiation between Russia and the Alliance as a whole. There is no question of any individual Ally committing NATO to any particular outcome.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have passed any authority concerning NATO matters to US Secretary of State Albright and US Under-Secretary of State Talbott that could reduce the United Kingdom's freedom of action regarding NATO in negotiations with the Russian Government, and if so within what limits.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyNo. Negotiations between NATO and Russia are being conducted by the Secretary General of NATO on the basis of a mandate and negotiating position agreed by all 16 Allied Governments. We strongly support the Secretary General's efforts.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Secretary of State for Defence's remarks in his speech of 3 February in Kiev, to the effect that any "NATO actions beyond its borders would invariably require a mandate from the United Nations or from the OSCE", mean that Russia already has a veto over any such possible NATO actions, both in the OSCE and in the UN Security Council.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyNATO would not act in contravention of the United Nations Charter. The Russian veto in the United Nations Security Council, and the fact that OSCE takes decisions by consensus, are both well known.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with President Chirac that an agreement between Russia and NATO should be discussed more widely than bilaterally between the United States and Russia (as for instance also by the Governments of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy), so that a consensus on European security arrangements can be achieved before the Madrid NATO summit, and be endorsed there.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyAny NATO/Russia agreement would be the result of negotiations between Russia and the Alliance as a whole. The NATO 133WA Secretary General is negotiating on behalf of all the Allies. The Government strongly support his efforts.