§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the proposal from Belarus and Ukraine for a central and eastern European nuclear free zone at the 1995 extension and review conference of the non-proliferation treaty as an alternative to the eastwards expansion of NATO; and if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's response to the proposal. [15332]
§ Mr. David DavisI have been asked to reply.
As my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development stated in another place on 18 June 1996, column 22, NATO countries continue to believe that nuclear deterrence makes an essential contribution to preserving peace and stability in Europe. We have made our position clear to both the Ukrainians and the Belarusians. However, NATO Foreign Ministers announced on 10 December 1996 that NATO had no intention, no plan and no reason to deploy nuclear weapons on the territory of new members.