Written question asked by Michael Colvin (Conservative) on Monday, 29 June 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 7 July 1998. It was answered by Tony Lloyd (Labour) on Tuesday, 7 July 1998 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to amend the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty to reflect the changing European security environment.

Answer: Mr. Colvin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to amend the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty to reflect the changing European security environment. [48288] Mr. Tony Lloyd: The CFE Treaty was negotiated at the end of the Cold War, and limited the number of heavy weapons held by the countries of NATO and the Warsaw Pact in the area from the Atlantic to the Urals. The adapted Treaty will replace a bloc-to-bloc balance between two military alliances with limits on individual nations' weapons holdings, and territorial limits for equipment. This fundamental change will be accompanied by a series of enhancements to the detailed provisions of the Treaty, with the aim of further reducing tension between the States Parties, preventing the destabilising build-up of forces in the Treaty area, and improving military transparency.

Secondary information