§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the French Government that it is desirable that NATO Southern Command should sometimes be separated from command of the US Sixth Fleet and be held by a European, or with the United States Government that it is imperative that NATO Southern Command should always be held by an American, and what are their reasons.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyI refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my noble friend Lord Howe on 11 February (col.WA 17).
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether NATO's relations with countries of the Mediterranean and Middle East are affected by the United States support of, and collaboration with, Israel's military activities.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe NATO Governments' policy is to pursue a dialogue with Mediterranean countries on military and security matters. This dialogue includes Israel as well as Mauritania, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel and Jordan.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the purpose of the recent tour of the Commonwealth of Independent States countries by the Secretary General of NATO, and whether the "pro-NATO" political association newly established 54WA in Azerbaijan is funded by NATO or by the United States.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyMoldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan participate in Partnership for Peace. The NATO Secretary General visited these countries, at their invitation, in the periods 10–14 February and 10–14 March. NATO does not fund the Azerbaijan-Atlantic Co-operation Association. We have no other information on the organisation's finances.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which forces participated in the recent Partnership for Peace exercise off the coast of the Crimea, and what political control there is over Partnership for Peace exercises and scenarios.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyNo Partnership for Peace exercises have taken place off the coast of Crimea.
Political control over the Partnership Programme is exercised within NATO by the North Atlantic Council and the relevant NATO working groups.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are (a) NATO's and (b) the United States' current roles in Albania, and whether Albanian armed forces have been trained and exercised under Partnership for Peace auspices.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyNATO is intensively monitoring the situation in Albania and has urged the parties to cease acts of violence and establish dialogue. The United States has full diplomatic relations with Albania. Albania signed the Partnership for Peace Framework document in February 1994 and since then has participated in various Partnership for Peace activities including multilateral and bilateral exercises.