COUNCIL MEETING


1.
GV EXT. N.A.T.O. BUILDING
0.05

2.
SV INT. GEORGE BROWN (U.K.) ENTERS
0.10

3.
LV INT. PRESSMEN
0.12

4.
SV MACNAMARA AND RUSK (U.S.A.) TALKING
0.17

5.
SV CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT SEATED
0.20

6.
SV DANISH DELEGATES SEATED
0.24

7.
SV TURKISH DELEGATES
0.28

8.
SV GREEK DELEGATES
0.31

9.
SV ICELANDIC DELEGATES
0.35

10.
SV NORWEGIAN DELEGATES
0.39

11.
SV ITALIAN DELEGATES
0.42

12.
SV FRENCH DELEGATES
0.45

13.
SCV COUVE DE MURVILLE TAKES SEAT
0.50

14.
SV U.K. DELEGATES
0.55

15.
SV GERMAN DELEGATES
0.58

16.
CU BRANDT AND SCHROEDER
1.01

17.
SV DUTCH DELEGATES
1.05

18.
SV PRESSMEN
1.07



Initials AA/V/MR/K...



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A BELGIAN PROPOSAL FOR A SEARCHING REAPPRAISAL OF THE 17 YEAR-OLD NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANISATION (NATO) AND ITS AIMS WON WIDE SUPPORT AT THE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL MEETING IN PARIS TODAY (THURSDAY).

THE BRITISH, DANISH, DUTCH, CANADIAN, ITALIAN AND NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS BACKED THE INITIATIVE BY BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PIERRE HARMEL A THE OPENING SESSION OF THE NATO MINISTERIAL COUNCIL MEETING. THE DOMINANT MOOD OF THE SESSION -- ALMOST CERTAINLY THE LAST TO BE HELD IN PARIS BEFORE THE COUNCIL'S MOVE TO BRUSSELS NEXT SPRING -- WAS TO ADAPT NATO TO A CHANGING WORLD, SECURE CONTINUED UNITED STATES INVOLVEMENT IN EUROPE, AND FIND AND EXPLOIT OPPORTUNITIES OF FURTHERING A DETENTE WITH THE SOVIET UNION AND ITS EASTERN EUROPEAN ALLIES.

THE BELGIAN PROPOSAL REFLECTED THE WIDELY-FELT VIEW THAT NATO MUST QUICKLY FIND NEW COHESION FOLLOWING THE FRENCH WITHDRAWAL FROM MILITARY INTEGRATION. IT CALLED FOR A PRELIMINARY REPORT TO THE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL AT ITS SPRING MEETING, AND A FINAL REPORT TO THE WRITER SESSION IN DECEMBER NEXT YEAR.

M. HARMEL SAID THERE WAS FAR GREATER MORAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL COHESION IN WESTERN EUROPE TODAY AND THIS SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN THE ALLIANCE.

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY GEORGE BROWN SAID A DEFENCE ARRANGEMENT IN WESTERN EUROPE DETACHED FROM NATO WOULD BE WORTH NOTHING AND DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTER JOSEPH LUNS WARNED THAT WITHOUT UNITED STATES SUPPORT, EUROPE WOULD CONTINUE TO EXIST ONLY THROUGH SOVIET TOLERANCE.