NATO (Sintra Meeting)

HC Deb 06 June 1997 vol 295 cc284-5W

Mr. Hope

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of(a) the meeting in Paris on 27 May between NATO Heads of State and Government and the Russian President and (b) the North Atlantic Council meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers at Sintra on 29 and 30 May. [2847]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

In Paris my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister signed, with his NATO colleagues, the President of Russia, and the NATO Secretary-General, the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Co-operation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation. This is an historic document designed to encourage greater trust and co-operation between Russia and NATO.

The main provisions of the Act are: a list of shared principles, including the right of States to choose the means to ensure their own security; arrangements for a Permanent Joint Council which will meet monthly at the level of Ambassadors, twice yearly at Ministerial level, and on demand in a crisis; consultation and co-operation over security crises, crisis management and conflict resolution, joint operations, defence policy and military doctrine and arms control; an agreed approach to the adaption of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe and provisions for more co-operation between military establishments.

The NATO Foreign Ministers in Sintra had a preliminary discussion on decisions to be taken at the NATO Summit meeting in Madrid on 8 July. In particular they discussed NATO enlargement but did not reach conclusions on which of the applicants for membership will be invited to join the Alliance at Madrid. That decision will be taken by Allied Governments in time for the Summit.

Foreign Ministers also initialled a draft NATO/Ukraine Charter which will provide a basis for enhanced co-operation symbolising NATO's recognition of the importance of Ukraine's sovereignty and independence.

On 30 May NATO Foreign Ministers and the 27 Partner countries launched the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and an expansion of NATO's programme with Partners, Partnership for Peace. The enhanced Partnership for Peace encourages Partners to plan, train for and mount the full range of peacekeeping operations including the most demanding. The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council will also provide a political forum for discussing Partnership activities, and wider issues of European security.

Copies of the NATO Russian Founding Act have been placed in the Libraries of the House.