Thessaloniki, 09/03/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Western European Armaments Group (WEAG), a European forum for cooperation in armaments matters, is meeting on 9 and 10 March in Thessaloniki to discuss European cooperation in this field in the context of development of European defence and security policy. Greek Defence Minister Akis Tsohatzopulos opened the conference, being held at the level of armaments directors for WEAG member countries. Greece is the President-in-Office of WEAG until the end of the year.
It will be recalled that countries with full membership of WEAG include the ten full members of the Western European Union (Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal and Greece), a country with observer status in the WEU (Denmark) and two WEU associate members (Turkey and Norway). In November 1997 in Erfurt, the WEAG, noting the interest of other countries in its work, decided to boost their participation. On 22 November in Luxembourg, Austria, Finland and Sweden took part in the WEAG meeting at Defence Minister level, and Ministers also decided to allow Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic (new NATO members) to participate in WEAG activities and approved a procedure enabling them to become full members.