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NATO
Dutch Lower Chamber Debates
NATO Nuclear Strategy
23 March 1999
By Karel Koster
NATO's nuclear policy was the subject of the
debate at the joint meeting of the Dutch Foreign Affairs and
Defence Committees on 17 March. Karel Koster summarises the
debate and the key issues raised at the meeting that was attended
by Minister of Foreign Affairs, van Aartsenand the Minister
of Defence, de Grave.
KEY POINTS MADE IN COMBINED MEETING OF THE
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE COMMITTEES
DUTCH LOWER CHAMBER
17 March 1999
The foreign affairs spokespersons for four parties
(Labour, D66 centrist, Green Left, Socialist party) voiced
criticism of recent Dutch NATO nuclear policy, as described
by the two ministers in letters sent to parliament. MPs also
asked whether there are nuclear weapons on Dutch territory.
This critiscism included the folowing:
-
Lack of progress made by the minister in
implementing the Hoekema/Koenders resolution
-
Warnings about failure of the NPT
-
Relation between negative security assurances
and NATO first use
-
Dangers to ABM treaty
-
Relationship between NPT, WMD proliferation
-
US WMD initiative in Strategic Concept should
be kept within bounds
The following suggestions were made :
-
Setting up of a High Level Task Force tied
to the North Atlantic Council, to discuss future role
of nuclear weapons; contribution NATO to NPT; (Koenders,
Labour)
-
Starting START III negotiations immediately
-
Using the phrase 'weapons of last resort'
instead of 'in extreme circumstances' in the new Strategic
concept
Reply by minister Van Aartsen
-
Does not see difference between 'weapons
of last resort' and in 'extremely remote circumstances';
-
Besides, last resort was never part of the
Strategic Concept, only some press releases;
-
Delays in nuclear disarmament are being
caused by Russian Duma;
-
Germany is no longer calling for NFU:
-
However, debate is not finished: lot of
debate on nuclear paragraph still going on at this time;
-
Spoke to Strobe Talbott about it, clearly
USA not yet prepared for 'extremely remote circumstances'
formulation
-
ABM : agree this should not be undermined:
US anti-missile programme still on drawing board;
-
Prepared to look at Koenders' suggestion
for High Level Task Force (however, there are other NATO
organs for this)
-
Emphasise that consultation on formulation
of nuclear paragraph still in progress.
-
On further questioning:
- NATO nuclear doctrine and NPT are not contradictory;
Dutch government supports article VI, nuclear free world
At the end of this meeting D66 MP Hoekema stated
that he was dissatisfied with the reply regarding negative
security assurances and that he wanted a further written note
from the government. Green Left legislator Marijke Vos also
expressed dissatisfaction and stated that she was considering
the option to ask a plenary debate on the Strategic Concept.
Minister Van Aartsen promised that he will provide
further written note on negative security assurances. Strategic
Concept discussion will continue; he also wondered whether
Koenders' High Level Group would be the best way of continuing
the discussion: this should be continued at the political
level, he thought.
There was insufficient time to discuss all the
aspects of the Strategic Concept: a second meeting of the
same combined committee will be called some days before the
NATO Summit.
Hoekema / Koenders Resolution
3 December 1998 nr 22/ 26200-V
The Chamber,
Having listened to the arguments, considering
that the strategic concept of NATO requires being brought
up to date as a consequence of the changes in the international
security situation, among them potential threats by countries
possessing chemical, biological or nuclear weapons;
judging that, within the framework of this reconsideration
nuclear deterrence should be critiaclly measured tested and
a policy should also be formulated regarding these potential
threats;
judging that, within the framework of such a
policy measures should be considered in relation to the "de-alerting"
of nuclear weapons, arms control and the adjustment of nuclear
doctrines, among them no-first use,
requests the government to introduce these elements
into NATO
and takes up its regular business.
The Chair: this resolution is proposed by the
members Koenders and Hoekema. It is sufficiently supported.
This resolution was passed and the government
was therefore required to carry it out. Hence the critiscism
described above.
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