HC Deb 28 July 1997 vol 299 c30W
Ann Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the negotiations in Vienna on adapting and modernising the CFE treaty. [10445]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

On 23 July, NATO allies and the other 14 CFE states adopted an outline agreement for modernising the CFE treaty. This is good news for European security. CFE states have agreed to abolish the old bloc-to-bloc structure of the treaty and to set lower maximum equipment levels; maintain regional limits, including in the flank zone of south-east and north-east Europe; improve the transparency of our military activity, including the exacting inspections which have been one of the treaty's greatest strengths.

Negotiations will resume in Vienna in September on the basis of this outline agreement.