HL Deb 13 March 1997 vol 579 cc31-2WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the statement regarding NATO expansion made by the Baroness Chalker of Wallasey that "these negotiations will have no direct effect on other international business or the European Union Intergovernmental Conference" (27 Feb., WA 106) takes account of the Russian Parliament's linking of NATO enlargement with the renegotiation of the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty, the ratification of START, the reinterpretation of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and other such matters outwith the responsibility of NATO.

Lord Chesham

Linkages made by the Russian Parliament are a matter for that body. We remain of the view that negotiations for accession to NATO membership are compatible with the present international arms control agenda.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the continuing experience of Partnership for Peace (including the joint exercises with and in East European countries) has shown that the eastward enlargement of NATO is no longer necessary and should be reconsidered.

Lord Chesham

No. Partnership for Peace was launched at the 1994 NATO Summit, in parallel with the Alliance's commitment to enlargement, as one strand of a policy aimed at enhancing the security of Europe. The enlargement of NATO has been another essential strand of that policy since 1994.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are aware that the proposed expansion of NATO eastward is considered by the Russian Government to be a breach of an informal undertaking given by the Prime Minister, when he was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, during discussions on German reunification.

Lord Chesham

I refer the noble Lord to the Answer I gave to his question on this subject on 20 November 1996(WA 137)

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Answer given by the Baroness Chalker of 20 February (WA 59), whether the statement made in the course of the December 1996 NATO meeting that NATO had "no intention, no plan and no reason" to deploy nuclear weapons in new NATO states, is legally binding on those who made it; and, if not, what is its status.

Lord Chesham

Statements made by NATO Foreign Ministers at their meetings are politically binding on the 16 NATO governments.