HC Deb 20 December 1988 vol 144 c249W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans for discussions with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Warsaw pact on asymmetrical force and arms reductions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is likely that new negotiations on conventional forces in Europe involving the 23 NATO and Warsaw pact countries will begin soon; there will be a need for heavily asymmetrical reductions in key weapons systems by the countries of the Warsaw pact to redress current imbalances. The global ban on chemical weapons already under negotiation in the conference on disarmament will also require far greater reductions by the Warsaw pact countries than the countries of NATO.

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