We reaffirmed our commitment to the success of this important Alliance initiative. The Alliance has continued its work in a range of co-operative armaments projects, including those being pursued as a result of United States legislation. These endeavours, conducted on the basis of fair and equitable trade practices between all the Allies, have the potential to improve substantially efficiency and economy in equipping our conventional forces, thus contributing to Alliance strength, cohesion and solidarity. We continue to attach great importance to the sharing of technology among the member countries of the Alliance and to the protection of militarily relevant technology. In this context we agreed to provide additional funding for the NATO Common Infrastructure Programme to accommodate the relocation of the United States' 401st Tactical Fighter Wing from Spain to Italy.
Arms control is an integral part of our security policy.
We reaffirmed that we will continue to explore all opportunities, consistent with our security requirements, for effectively verifiable arms control agreements. In Europe the conventional disparities, as evidenced in the facts and figures on conventional forces published by the Alliance on 25th November, remain at the core of our concerns, and this field offers the greatest potential for enhancing security. Our objective is to establish a secure and stable balance of forces at lower levels through the elimination of disparities and, as a matter of priority, the Warsaw Pact capability for launching surprise attack and initiating large-scale offensive action. Until then the MBFR negotiations will continue. We remain determined to sustain our efforts to provide the necessary nuclear and conventional forces, of sufficient quantity, quality and diversity to ensure the continued credibility of the Alliance's strategy of flexible response and forward defence.