Statement
NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council
Meeting at Ministerial level held
in Budapest on 29 May 2001
The NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council
(PJC) met at the level of Foreign Ministers
on Tuesday, 29 May 2001 in Budapest.
Ministers noted with satisfaction
progress achieved since their last
meeting in December 2000. They examined
future priorities of the PJC Work
Programme for 2001 and reaffirmed
their commitment to build, within
the framework of the PJC, a more solid
partnership in the interest of security
and stability in the Euro-Atlantic
area, as enshrined in the NATO-Russia
Founding Act.
Building on the useful exchanges
held at PJC meetings at Ambassadorial
level, Ministers reviewed the situation
in the Balkans. They noted the high
degree of common ground achieved through
intensive dialogue and cooperation.
Ministers reiterated their full commitment
to the security, stability and territorial
integrity of the former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia(1)
. They welcomed Skopje's efforts in
isolating the extremist elements and
preventing a further escalation of
the crisis. They urged all ethnic
groups to unite in solidarity against
extremists and violence.
Ministers welcomed the contributions
made by the democratic government
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
to enhancing prospects for long-term
stability across the region. They
encouraged the continuation of efforts
to find a peaceful solution to the
problems in southern Serbia, taking
into account the peace plan of the
FRY/Serbia authorities which seeks
to normalise inter-ethnic relations
in this area.
Ministers expressed their support
for a democratic Montenegro within
a democratic Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
They noted the danger of unilateral
action and called for an early resumption
of a constructive dialogue between
the authorities in Belgrade and Podgorica,
aiming at an agreed re-definition
of federal relations.
With regard to Bosnia and Herzegovina
and Kosovo, they noted the good cooperation
between the contingents of NATO and
Russia in theatre. They reconfirmed
their determination to implement the
Dayton Peace Accords and UNSCR 1244
in all their aspects. In this context,
they expressed deep concern about
the recent challenges to the Dayton
Peace Accords and strongly condemned
the continued incidents of political
and ethnic violence in and around
Kosovo as well as extremist and terrorist
activities.
Ministers noted a Progress Report
on the implementation of the PJC Work
Programme for 2001 and expressed their
satisfaction with the broad range
of issues addressed in the PJC since
their last meeting. These included,
inter alia, Russian proposals for
non-strategic missile defence, nuclear
weapons issues, including inter alia
NATO proposals for Confidence and
Security Building Measures in the
nuclear field, defence reforms, arms
control, problems of proliferation,
the retraining of discharged military
personnel, combating international
terrorism as well as dialogue on ways
and means to improve cooperation in
the EAPC and PfP. Ministers in particular
welcomed the progress achieved in
NATO-Russia cooperation on search
and rescue at sea.
Ministers welcomed the inauguration
of the NATO Information Office in
Moscow in February and looked forward
to the contribution it will make to
improve public understanding of evolving
relations between NATO and Russia.
NATO and Russia emphasised the importance
they attach to the further development
of military-to-military cooperation.
In this context, Ministers welcomed
the ongoing consultations on the establishment
of a NATO Military Liaison Mission
in Moscow (MLM).
Ministers expressed their determination
to take the NATO-Russia partnership
further forward, making good use of
the full potential of the Founding
Act. They agreed to meet again at
Ministerial level in Brussels on 6
December 2001.
1. Turkey recognises
the Republic of Macedonia with its
constitutional name.
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