§ Mrs. MahonTo ask the Prime Minister if he will discuss with President Putin the commitment not to expand NATO into the former Soviet Republics. [332]
§ The Prime MinisterNATO has made no commitment to Russia that it will not expand into the former Soviet Republics. In signing the NATO-Russia founding act in 1997, Russia acknowledged her commitment to
respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states and their inherent right to choose the means to ensure their own security.Any decision on NATO enlargement will be based on the three criteria set out at the 1999 Washington Summit: the aspirant must be ready to join NATO; NATO itself must be ready to accept new members; any new enlargement must enhance overall European security.
NATO is committed to building and maintaining a strong working relationship with Russia, built on transparency and mutual respect. The regular meeting that takes place between NATO and Russia through the Permanent Joint Council (PJC) embodies this relationship.