Press Release 22 Sept. 2004

NATO and Russia to conduct a procedural exercise on 28-30 September 2004 The 27 members of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) will conduct their first procedural exercise under the auspices of the NRC from 28 to 30 September 2004. The exercise is sponsored by NATO’s Secretary General in his capacity as the chairman of the NRC. The exercise is designed to help validate and further develop the political aspects of the generic concept for the planning and conduct of joint NATO-Russia peacekeeping operations. The scenario for this exercise is hypothetical. It will focus on a response to a fictional international crisis situation generating a shared concern among the members of the NRC. No actual troops will be involved in the exercise. Participants will include civilian and military representatives from the 27 NRC nations, both from capitals and in Brussels. The exercise will build on current crisis management practices in NATO and the Russian Federation. This event further demonstrates and reflects a growing determination of NATO member states and the Russian Federation to work together in addressing jointly the current security challenges. For further information, please contact the NATO Press and Media Service in Brussels (tel: +32 2 707 5041; fax: +32 2 707 5057).