ASSEMBLY BUILDING AND DELEGATES; MR. HARMEL SPEAKS; MR. BROSIO SPEAKS; GERMAN AND FRENCH DELEGATES LISTEN.




Initials LH/VS/BOB/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL MANLIO BROSLIO TODAY (MONDAY) STRESSED THE NEED FRO AN IMPROVED EUROPE MILITARY EFFORT WITHIN THE NORTH ATLANTIC ALLIANCE AFTER THE SOVIET UNION'S INTERVENTION IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA.

HE WAS ADDRESSING THE 200 MEMBER NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY WHICH LINKS NATO PARLIAMENTARIANS. MR. BROSIO REFERRED TO A PROPOSAL FOR AN EIGHT NATION "EUROPEAN AUTHORITY FOR JOINT DEFENCE EFFORTS" WHICH WOULD INCLUDE BRITAIN, NORWAY, DENMARK AND FRANCE'S FIVE COMMON MARKET PARTIES.

MR. BROSIO TOLD DELEGATES THAT DIFFICULTIES WITHIN THE EUROPEAN COMMON MARKET AND THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION IMPEDING PROGRESS TO POLITICAL UNITY HAD SUGGESTED NEW EUROPEAN EFFORTS ON THE MILITARY SIDE OF THE NATO ALLIANCE.

IN HIS ADDRESS, MR. BROSIO SAID THE CZECHOSLOVAK CRISIS HAD POSTPONED BUT NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEMS SURROUNDING THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF UNITED STATES TROOPS IN EUROPE.

THE ASSEMBLY ALSO HEARD A RENEWED CALL FRO A EUROPEAN SUMMIT CONFERENCE TO INCLUDE BRITAIN AN COMMON MARKETS MEMBERS.

THE BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, MR. PIERRE HARMEL, HAD EARLIER PROPOSED TO BRING BRITAIN CLOSER TO THE COMMON MARKET IN THE FACE OF THE CONTINUED FRENCH VETO ON NEGOTIATIONS ON BRITAIN'S APPLICATION TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY.