§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will comment on the statement by the Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of Staff of the Hungarian Army that "NATO's view on the issues is, as we are going to be a front-line country constituting a wing of NATO, that joint protection of NATO's airspace is very significant.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyNo decision has yet been taken on which countries will be invited to begin accession negotiations with NATO.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the US Government has discussed with its NATO allies its offer to Romania of $6.5 million to buy defence equipment, and whether this is in the context of NATO expansion.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThis is a bilateral matter for the governments of Romania and the United States. NATO has not set equipment requirements in the context of enlargement.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the offer from the US Navy to provide the Czech Government with F/A-18A, F/A-18B and F-16A/B aircraft rent-free for five years, as reported in the BBC's Summary of World Broadcasts (EE/2830 C/2), is within the discussion of NATO expansion.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThis is a bilateral matter for the governments of the Czech Republic and the United States. NATO has not set equipment requirements in the context of enlargement.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the implications for NATO expansion of the recent agreement between the Hungarian government and the Lockheed Martin Corporation to allow Hungary to pay in goods any amount over $1 billion towards an order of fighter aircraft (as reported in the BBC's Summary of World Broadcasts (EEW/0472 WC/4)); and whether these arrangements are part of the discussion of NATO or EU expansion.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThis is a bilateral matter for the governments of Hungary and the United States. It does not form part of NATO or EU discussions of enlargement. NATO has not set equipment requirements in the context of enlargement.
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§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether all NATO countries have a veto on expansion; if so, whether the Secretary-General of NATO was authorised to state in Hungary that "Turkey could not halt NATO enlargement" (as reported in the BBC's Summary of World Broadcasts (EE/2837 C/6)) and if so, by whom.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyAs with all Alliance decisions, the decision to invite certain countries to open accession negotiations with NATO will be taken by consensus. The Hungarian press report to which the noble Lord refers also reports the Secretary General as noting that all allies had accepted that this important decision should be taken in July.