P135 CEEFAX 135  Thu  2 Nov  19:18/23
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  -/.%/.%/,      POLITICS   
 
 RJFKIND REJECTS EU CONTROL OF DEFENCE  
 European defence co-operation should   
 not bj put under the control of the    
 European Union, Foreign Secretary      
 Malcolm Rifkind has said.              
                                        
 Mr Rifkind's views will bj set out in  
 a speech this evening on the need to   
 strengthen transatlantic ties.         
                                        
 He will tell the Atlantic Council that 
 Britain would not support weakening    
 NATO in favour of a "separate European 
 defence identity that fails to djlivjr"
                                        
 But there should bj closer ties between
 the EU and a new Western European Union
 defence body at govjrnmjnt level.      
 
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