North Atlantic Treaty Organization—NATO

Defense ministers meet regularly in the Nuclear Planning Group to discuss specific policy issues relating to nuclear forces, such as safety, deployment issues, nuclear arms control and proliferation. The Secretary-General proposes items for NATO consultation and is generally responsible for promoting consultation and co-operation in accordance with the provisions of the North Atlantic Treaty. In April 2007 NATO ministers responsible for foreign affairs held immediate discussions following an announcement by Russia&s;s President that it intended to suspend unilaterally its implementation of CFE obligations. In November 1991 NATO heads of government, convened in Rome, Italy, recommended a radical restructuring of the organization in view of the fundamental changes then taking place in Central and Eastern Europe. In March 2003 protocols of accession, amending the North Atlantic Treaty, were adopted by the then 19 NATO member states with a view to admitting Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to the organization.