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The NATO Nuclear Planning Group, composed of Ministers of
Defence of eight NATO countries, adjourned today after a two-day
conference in Venice, Italy.
Ministers of Defence attending the meeting were Mr. Leo Cadieux,
Canada; Mr. Helmut Schmidt, Germany; Mr. Mario Tanassi, Italy;
Mr. Willem den Toom, Netherlands; Mr. Gunnar Hellesen, Norway;
Mr. Ahmet Topaloglu, Turkey; Mr. Denis Healey, United Kingdom;
and Mr. Melvin R. Laird, United States. Mr. Grieg Tidemand,
Minister of Commerce and Shipping, Norway, also participated.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Manlio Brosio, Secretary General
of NATO.
This was the seventh of the regular half-yearly meetings of the
Group. On the basis of a number of comprehensive studies and
reports prepared by member countries and by the NATO Military
Authorities, the Ministers continued their review of substantive
policy issues pertaining to the possible defensive employment of
nuclear weapons in the context of NATO's strategy of flexibility
in response.
The Ministers gave further directions for continuing work on the
exploration of these issues with the intent of formulating
policy proposals for eventual consideration by the Nuclear
Defence Affairs Committee and the Defence Planning Committee.
The Ministers agreed to hold the eight meeting of the Nuclear
Planning Group in Canada in the Autumn of 1970.
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