Speaking ahead of a three-day meeting of NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO-PA) members in Brussels, President Rafael ESTRELLA (Spain) said today:"This is a timely moment to discuss a whole range of delicate issues for the Alliance, from European ambitions to establish a distinct defence identity, to US plans for aseparate National Missile Defence system, to public fears about the use of depleted uranium in ordinance deployed in Kosovo." As well as NATO HQ there will also be meetings at the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on the ESDP, EU enlargement and transatlantic economic relations.

Estrella said that the immediate issue in EU-US relations was the EU's proposed 60,000 strong Rapid Reaction Force. "We have to be clear that the EU has the right to establish its own security identity ­ just as the US has a right to make decisions about protecting itself," he said. "Our concern in both cases is stability and continuity, and avoiding any damage to the Alliance". "It was vital", he said," that any new European structure followed procedures compatible with NATO's, and avoided any duplication." He conceded that "without question there were such dangers in the Rapid Reaction Force, and worries on the part of non-EU allies, among them Turkey, about being properly consulted on the use of NATO capabilities:"These concerns are at the top of our agenda in Brussels. I believe Europe's project should serve two purposes: to consolidate European integration, and to reinforce Europe's contribution to NATO. I believe it is possible to achieve both".

"But it was essential, before any deployment, to reach agreement on how and when the Rapid Reaction Force was to be used - with or without NATO. This cannot be done on the hoofas this would be a formula for duplication at best, and at worst waste and muddle. Fortunately we have no immediate conflicts to resolve, and a breathing space to get this right. NATO - EU discussions were going "in the right direction," he said.

On US plans for missile defence, Estrella said: "While no one challenges the right and legitimacy of the US desire to better guarantee its national security, many members of the Assembly - myself included - have honest doubts about whether this is the best, or the most feasible, response to the threat of a rogue attack on America. There were also worries about the negative strategic implications of the NMD project which could be interpreted as infringing the ABM Treaty. It is important that no unilateral steps are taken until there has been further discussion among the allies." Estrella added that "matters are unfortunately still at a stage where it is difficult to have a proper debate."

On concerns about the use of depleted uranium in NATO ordinance in Kosovo, Estrella said the security of both troops and citizens was paramount, and there should be "complete transparency" on the issue. However, a background document on Depleted Uranium prepared by the Assembly secretariat noted that among existing studies there was no evidence linking depleted uranium with the cancer cases among NATO peacekeepers. "But whatever the truth, I personally believe this affair should cause us to rethink our doctrinal approach," he said. "One might legitimately wonder if it makes sense to use arms which contaminate the soil in places where civilians have to live, and our own troops are to be deployed."