Press Statement 17 May 2000

Press Statement Meeting of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council at Ambassadorial level The NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council (PJC) at Ambassadorial level met on Wednesday, 17 May 2000. Following a briefing on the meeting of Military Representatives at the level of Chiefs of Defence Staff/General Staff under the auspices of the PJC held on 10 May 2000, Ambassadors discussed the situation in the Former Yugoslavia and exchanged views on the NATO-Russia cooperation in the international security presence in Kosovo (KFOR). They reviewed, in particular, the state of implementation of the security aspects on UNSCR 1244 and stressed their determination to meet in full the aims of the international community as set out therein. In this context, they reiterated the determination by NATO and Russia to cooperate closely in all areas including the protection of Kosovo's minorities. They underlined that the international community will not tolerate provocations and other attempts to undermine the peace process. Following the discussion on questions related to NATO's 1999 Strategic Concept, Russia's National Security Concept and issues related to military strategy and doctrines held at the 15 March and 12 April PJC, Ambassadors exchanged, in the same spirit of confidence-building and transparency, information on infrastructure development programmes. Ambassadors discussed issues related to cooperation in the scientific field. They agreed that the Memorandum on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, signed on 28 May 1998, will provide a sound and comprehensive basis to enhance NATO-Russia cooperation in this field. At Ambassadorial level, the PJC will meet again on 21 June 2000.