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Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Volume 408: debated on Wednesday 9 July 2003

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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what date NATO was given right of first refusal over the European Security and Defence Policy mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; [119854]

NameDateLocation
Major Ward21 MarchKuwaiti side of the Kuwait/Iraq border
Captain Guy
Major Ward
Colour Sergeant Cecil
Marine Hedenskog
OM(C)2 Seymour
Sergeant Hehir
Lance Bombadier Evans
Warrant Officer 2 Stratford

(2) what discussions have taken place between (a) the UK Government and (b) the EU with the US Administration concerning the proposed ESDP deployment to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [119855]

The United Kingdom Government have on-going discussions on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the ESDP deployment, with the US Administration. Under the European Security and Defence Policy the EU undertakes operations where NATO as a whole is not engaged. The EU Secretary General/High Representative, Mr Solana, briefed NATO Foreign Ministers, including US representatives, on EU discussions about the operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo on 3 June. NATO Foreign Ministers welcomed this transparency. There was no suggestion that NATO would become engaged. NATO and the EU are autonomous organisations. As such, they take decisions independently of each other, albeit in close consultation.