[ '45-'49 | '50-'59 | '60-'69 | '70-'79 | '80-'89 | '90-'99 | '00- ] [ 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 ] Summary | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec April 1997

2 Apr	Baltic Defence Ministers meet in Vilnius, Lithuania, to discuss the formation of a joint peacekeeping battalion (BALTBAT) and a joint naval squadron (BALTRON).
9-11 Apr	NATO Secretary General Javier Solana meets US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on NATO-Russian relations and visits Canada. Additional information: NATO Speeches: Dinner Remarks by the Secretary General, Ottawa
15 Apr	NATO Secretary General Javier Solana meets Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov in Moscow for a fourth round of talks on a NATO-Russia document. The first of 6000 Italian-led multinational security landing force arrive at Tiranas airport. Operation Alba aims at the protection of humanitarian aid to Albania. WEU members agree that non-members Turkey and Norway would have the option of playing a full role in any WEU operations launched with NATO equipment.
17 Apr	Poland announces it will reduce its number of troops from 220000 to 180000 over the next seven years to meet NATO standards.
24 Apr	US Senate approves the Chemical Weapons Convention, a global treaty banning chemical weapons. (The Convention comes into force on 29 April).