§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept Secretary of State Albright's statement concerning discussions within the NATO-Russia Council, that "NATO's allies will always need to agree on every item on their agenda before meeting with Russia".
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)We would expect NATO allies to concert their positions closely before a meeting with Russia, as before meetings with other third parties. Mrs. Albright's statement made on 10 July to the United States Foreign Relations Committee was in connection with the NATO/Russia Founding Act.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Lord Whitty's statement on 21 October that it is "the intention of the British Government … to ensure that the new security process in Europe is an inclusive one to which the Russians are party" (H.L. Deb., col. 611), is compatible with that made on 7 October by Senator Helms in the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations concerning the establishment of "firewalls in NATO's relation with Russia", which was apparently agreed by Secretary of State Albright; and which policy is being adopted by NATO.
§ Baroness Symons of ' Vernham DeanThe NATO/Russia Founding Act, signed in Paris on 8 May by all members of NATO and Russia, provided a new framework for consultation with Russia. The NATO/Russia Joint Council gives Russia a strong voice in European security but not a veto in Alliance matters.