§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Secretary General of NATO has been correctly reported as proposing that, having decided to expand eastwards, NATO should next expand southwards and into the Middle East, and if so whether this development has been agreed within the NATO Council.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanNo. But the Secretary General has acknowledged the importance of the dialogue between NATO and a number of Mediterranean countries which has been under way for some time, and which we also support.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the United States Administration wants NATO to have a formal or informal "strategic relationship" with Israel, and if this has been discussed either bilaterally between them and the US Administration, or within NATO.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanIt is for the US Government to comment on its views on the relationship between NATO and Israel, and any discussions it has held with the Government of Israel. There has been no discussion of this matter within NATO.