Press Statement 20 March 2002 |
Meeting of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint CouncilThe NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council (PJC) met at Ambassadorial level on Wednesday, 20 March 2002. Following a briefing on the meeting of Military Representatives under the auspices of the PJC held on 19 March 2002, Ambassadors discussed the security situation in the Balkans. They addressed the evolving peace process in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1). They exchanged views on NATO-Russia cooperation in the international security presence in Kosovo (KFOR) and reiterated their full commitment to building there a democratic, multiethnic society. Ambassadors noted the progress achieved to date on the implementation of the task given by Ministers of NATO Allies and Russia in December 2001 to explore and develop, in the coming months, building on the Founding Act new, effective mechanisms for consultation, cooperation, joint decision, and coordinated/joint action in the context of the Ministerial decision to give new impetus and substance to our partnership with the goal of creating a new council bringing together NATO member states and Russia to identify and pursue opportunities for joint action at 20. Ambassadors reiterated their commitment to take the process forward in an expedient and timely fashion. Ambassadors also addressed issues related to disarmament and arms control, including general discussion on CFE and Open Skies, based on the NATO-Russia experts' meeting of conventional arms control experts held on 28 February in Brussels. The PJC at Ambassadorial level will meet again on 24 April 2002.
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