HC Deb 27 January 2003 vol 398 cc642-3W
Harry Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what numerical restrictions there are under the CFE Treaty on deployments of armed forces to Turkey. [92532]

Mr. Ingram

The Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty limits the numbers of conventional armaments and equipment in Europe in five categories:

  • armoured combat vehicles
  • artillery pieces
  • combat aircraft, and
  • attack helicopters.

Numerical limits for the armaments and equipment apply within the area of application of the CFE treaty, which covers the entire land territory of the States Parties in Europe from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural Mountains. In the case of the Republic of Turkey, an area in the south-east of Turkey bordering the non-CFE states of Syria, Iraq and Iran is excluded from the area of application.

Furthermore, the Republic of Turkey lies within a specifically defined CFE zone, commonly known as the flank zone. Within this zone additional numerical limitations apply with regard to temporary deployments of conventional armaments and equipment. In the area of application of the CFE treaty these are:

  • 153 battle tanks
  • 241 armoured combat vehicles, and
  • 140 pieces of artillery.

Deployments of combat aircraft and attack helicopters are not numerically limited, nor is the number of personnel. There are also no restrictions on naval forces under the CFE treaty.