QA.6 WHEN WILL THE FIVE NATION DEFENCE FORCE BECOME
OPERATIONAL?
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There has been a great deal of work to do in setting
up the new defence arrangements, and much still remains to be
done. The five nations have to work out a new political
framework, agree on a new consultative structure, work out
new arrangements for air defence, settle exactly where all
the forces are to be located, agree on accommodation
requirements and support arrangements, make new provisions
for status of forces, land tenure, etc., etc. All this
takes time. The intention is to have a Five Power
Ministerial Conference in the first half of next year to
set the seal on the new arrangements, which would then come
into effect later that year.