09 June 2000

Statement
NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council Meeting at Ministerial level held in Brussels on 9 June 2000

The NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council (PJC) met at the level of Defence Ministers on Friday, 9 June 2000 in Brussels.

Ministers emphasised the important role of the partnership between NATO and Russia for stability and security in the Euro-Atlantic area. Allies and Russia welcomed the recent steps, following the visit of the Secretary General of NATO to Moscow last February, to strengthen consultation and cooperation in the Permanent Joint Council on a broader range of issues. In
this context, they agreed to intensify their dialogue and cooperation in the defence and military field on the basis of common interest, reciprocity and transparency, as laid down in the NATO-Russia Founding Act.

Ministers discussed the situation in the former Yugoslavia and noted the continuing good cooperation on the ground between NATO and Russian forces in SFOR and KFOR; they agreed to work for further improved cooperation at all levels. They emphasised their joint determination to implement in full the provisions of UNSCR 1244. They reaffirmed their joint resolve to stop violence against ethnic minorities, to resist extremists, and to stand firmly together against provocations or other attempts to undermine the peace process. Together, with unity of purpose, they are determined to achieve their objectives of multi-ethnicity in Kosovo, return of refugees and internally displaced persons irrespective of their ethnic origin, strengthening of local democratic structures, and establishment of a functioning judicial system; and to win the fight against organised crime, arms and drugs
trafficking and illegal possession of weapons.

Ministers exchanged views on the defence-military priorities for the NATO-Russia dialogue and cooperation. They emphasised the importance of discussing the implementation of strategy and military doctrine, as a means to enhance transparency, build confidence, and dispel misperceptions with a view to ensuring stability. They agreed to pursue these discussions both in the
PJC and with military representatives under the auspices of the PJC in the PJC-MR. They noted the PJC Work Programme for the remainder of 2000 agreed in Florence. Ministers welcomed the positive outcome of the recent meeting of the PJC-CS and subsequent progress on agreeing the Work Plan for the meetings of military representatives.

Ministers welcomed the positive momentum of their fifth PJC Defence Ministers meeting, and agreed to meet again in December in Brussels.