Press Release 25 Sept. 2002

Press Guidelines For the Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers, Warsaw, 24-25 September 2002 The Defence Ministers and Representatives of the Alliance met informally in Warsaw on 24 September to discuss matters of mutual interest and concern. Alliance Ministers reaffirmed NATO's solidarity in the fight against terrorism and discussed the Alliance's role in combating it. With a view to the upcoming NATO Summit meeting in Prague, they also took stock of the work under way to prepare for the enlargement of the Alliance and to further adapt it, especially with respect to improving its military capabilities and reviewing its command arrangements. Ministers also discussed the Alliance's operational engagements, including in the Balkans. On 25 September, Alliance Ministers and the Defence Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergei Ivanov, met to discuss the international situation and review NATO-Russia cooperation, particularly in the fight against terrorism and in the Balkans. The Ministers expressed their thanks to their Polish colleague, Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski, for hosting the meeting.