THE 50 TH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OPENED IN VENICE, ITALY TODAY (FRIDAY) WITH A MEETING ON THE SITUATION IN THE CAUCASUS
NATO Parliamentary Assembly
12 Nov. 2004
The five-day meeting, which brings together some 300 legislators from
over 40 countries, began on schedule at the Palazzo del Casino at the
Lido with a meeting of the key NATO - Russia Parliamentary Committee - a
body created to foster greater understanding between Russian and NATO law
makers.
"We began with a stimulating discussion on the problems of the Caucasus
and the need to focus and sustain international attention on this
important area." said NATO-PA Secretary General, Mr. Simon Lunn.
"It set the tone for what we expect to be a challenging and interesting
session."
Later, the Assembly's Science and Technology Committee opened the work of
the Assembly's five working committees with a discussion of the G-8
Global Partnership Programme. During the Venice session, this committee
is due to focus on the problem of nuclear proliferation and how to deal
with countries that try to achieve nuclear weapons' capabilities.
The other committees - Defence and Security, Civil Dimension of Security,
Political, and Economics and Security - will consider a series of reports
on topical issues and hear presentations from international specialists
and Italian government ministers.
Parliamentarians from all 26 NATO member states, 13 NATO PA associate
delegations - mainly from Central and Eastern Europe - and 11 or so
parliamentary Observer states are expected to attend the Venice meeting
which will focus on a wide range of issues currently affecting the
Transatlantic Alliance.
These will include 'post conflict' reconstruction and development in
Afghanistan and Iraq, the war against terrorism, NATO's capabilities,
commitments and new partnerships, the perceived threat from weapons of
mass destruction and the evolving security relationship between the
European Union and NATO.
A highlight of the Venice session will be a joint meeting on Saturday
November 13 from 9 am to 12 noon between the NATO PA and the NATO
Council, the Alliance's policy-making body. This will be followed by a
joint press conference with the current President of the NATO PA, Hon.
Doug Bereuter (USA) and Mr Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, NATO Secretary
General.
For more information: Jonathan Clayton, NATO - PA spokesperson.
Tel: (39-041) 27 20 018, Cell: 3480519279, Email:
williams@nato-pa.int .
Interviews can be arranged on request
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