HL Deb 03 March 1997 vol 578 cc123-4WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will explain the reasoning behind the Secretary of State for Defence's statement in his speech of 3 February 1997 in Kiev that "our concern for Russian sensitivities cannot be a reason not to admit new members" to NATO, when he also stated that "we do feel a moral obligation to consider seriously the legislation ambitions" of other countries; and

Whether, at paragraphs 22 and 23 of his speech of 3 February 1997 in Kiev, the Secretary of State for Defence was inviting the Government of Ukraine to participate in United States proposed Anti-Ballistic Missile defence procurements; whether he discussed this matter with the Ukrainian Government, and, if so, to what effect.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)

As my right honourable friend said in his speech in Kiev, NATO's aim is to enhance security for all countries across the Euro-Atlantic region, taking into account the aspirations

Surgeon Lt/Capt/Flt Lt Surgeon Lt Cdr/Major/SqnLdr Surgeon Cdr/Lt Col/Wg Cdr Surgeon Capt/Col/Gp Capt Surgeon Cdre/Brig/Air Cdre Surgeon Rear Adm Maj/Gen AVM Surgeon Vice Adm/Gen Air Marshal
General Duties Medical Officer 205 157 86 26 4 4 0
Public Health Medicine and Occupational Medicine 0 20 23 8 4 1 0
Aviation Medicine 0 13 6 3 1 0 0
Anaesthetics 21 28 25 2 1 0 1
of those countries which wish to join NATO, as well as the sensitivities of those which do not.

My right honourable friend did not address the issue of anti-ballistic missile defence either in his speech or in his discussions with the Ukrainian Government.