HC Deb 06 April 1998 vol 310 c50W
28. Ms Squire

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the NATO Russia Founding Act. [36284]

Mr. George Robertson

Since the NATO/Russia Founding Act was signed in May 1997, good progress has been made on the agreed areas for consultation and cooperation. The mechanism for achieving this progress is the Permanent Joint Council, which is due to meet again at Ministerial level in May and June when we will take stock of progress against an agreed work plan for 1998. The UK encourages the implementation of the Founding Act to include as much practical activity as possible on the agreed basis of transparency and reciprocity.