HC Deb 15 January 2001 vol 361 c30W
Mr. Blunt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the North Atlantic Council meeting which took place on 14 and 15 December. [143749]

Mrs. Lait

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues were discussed at the North Atlantic Council meeting which took place on 14 and 15 December. [143738]

Mr. Vaz

The North Atlantic Council meeting of Foreign Ministers on 14 and 15 December highlighted NATO's progress in key areas during 2000. Ministers focused especially onthe increasing stability of South Eastern Europe, with a particular welcome for the recent changes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia; work under the Defence Capabilities Initiative towards more effective and interoperable NATO forces; NATO's collective determination to reinforce its European pillar and its commitment to a balanced and dynamic transatlantic partnership; European Defence, where NATO welcomed the outcome of the Nice European Council as the basis for permanent arrangements between the EU and NATO; NATO's commitment to remain open to new members; NATO's support for work to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

A copy of the Final Communique setting out the conclusions of the meeting has been placed in the Library of the House of Commons.