Press Statement 14 December 1998

Press Statement
NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council meeting at Ambassadorial level

The NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council (PJC) at Ambassadorial level met on Monday, 14 December 1998 at NATO Headquarters.

Ambassadors exchanged information and views on the situation in and around Bosnia and Herzegovina. They stressed the importance of the meeting of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) meeting scheduled for 15 December 1998. NATO and Russia agreed that their common efforts through SFOR were assisting the civilian aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement in taking root and noted that further work was required by all parties concerned.

The Representatives of NATO and Russia also exchanged views on peacekeeping issues. They welcomed the Report by the Political-Military Experts' Working Group on Peacekeeping, which was noted last week by Foreign Ministers. Ambassadors encouraged the Working Group to continue their development of a broad set of common understandings between NATO and Russia on peacekeeping issues.

The next meeting of the Permanent Joint Council at the Ambassadorial level is scheduled for 20 January 1999.