§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are their reasons for preferring a Europe-wide security system based on an expansion of NATO as preferred by the United States to one based on the CSCE, as preferred by other states.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe question of preference does not arise. NATO is a military alliance based on mutual security guarantees backed up by military assets. The CSCE is dedicated to conflict prevention and crisis management. Although Article X of the Washington Treaty allows for the enlargement of NATO's membership, no ally is advocating this. CSCE is already Europe-wide in its membership.
The two organisations are not alternatives, they reinforce one another. Their complementary nature was recognised in the decision taken by NATO foreign ministers in June 1992 for NATO to provide support to peacekeeping missions at the request and under the auspices of the CSCE.