NATO Speech: Press statement by NATO Secretary General following the meeting of NATO Defence Ministers with the Russian Minister Sergei Ivanov, Warsaw, Poland

Following yesterday's comprehensive discussions among NATO Defence Ministers we have this morning had a very useful and constructive session with the Minister of Defence of Russia, Sergei Ivanov.

The twenty ministers discussed two broad subject areas: NATO-Russia cooperation since the Rome summit and the prospects for the future; and current international issues.

All ministers agreed that the record of the NATO-Russia Council in the defence field is already a remarkable one. We have successfully injected a new dynamism into a wide range of projects. Some working groups, including those on Theatre Missile Defence and Peacekeeping, have already produced impressive results.

For example, we have agreed on a generic concept of joint NATO-Russia peacekeeping operations. This means that if the Allies and Russia were to decide on the joint conduct of a peacekeeping operation, the basic groundwork would already be in place so that we could move quickly to implementation. Practical cooperation of that kind is good news for the NATO Allies, good news for Russia, and good news for the international community.

Indeed, NATO and Russia are at this moment conducting a joint civil emergency preparedness exercise in Russia so that together we are better prepared to face real challenges.

The "twenty" reasserted their determination to stand shoulder-to-shoulder together in the campaign against terrorism. We are planning a major conference on the role of the military in this campaign in Moscow in December. This is the second in a series that is having a real impact in all of our countries.

Other important forthcoming events reviewed by Ministers included a meeting in early October between Allied and Russian experts on defence reform. We shall, of course, also continue our cooperation on the ground as part of the NATO-led operations in the Balkans.

In short, there was a shared sense of satisfaction with results already achieved and great hopes for future achievements. Rome was an extraordinary watershed in Euro-Atlantic history. We are now well on the way to turning its political promise into concrete reality.

The second part of our discussion, on current international issues, proved that there are no taboo subjects between good friends and partners. We had a mature, open debate.

Ministers exchanged views about the increasing danger we all face from the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They also addressed questions of regional security in and around the Euro-Atlantic area. A wide range of views were expressed. But this is the value of the NATO-Russia Council: it is a framework for discussions on all security matters identified in the Founding Act.

To conclude, let me thank the Polish authorities, and especially Minister Szmajdzinski and his team, for being such hospitable hosts for this important gathering.