26 Jan. 2000	Practical cooperation with Mediterranean countries Cooperation between NATO member countries and Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia, continues its course with the recent adoption of an annual Work Programme for 2000. This programme draws up measures of practical cooperation in areas such as information, civil emergency planning, crisis management and science, as well as in the military field for the coming year. These six non-NATO countries have been members of the Mediterranean Dialogue since 1995. They each hold political discussions with NATO members on security-related issues and reinforce their relations with measures of practical cooperation.
27 Jan. 2000	Lord Robertson in Ukraine NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, started his visit of Partner countries by spending two days in Ukraine on 27-28 January. He met with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, Prime Minister Viktor Yushcenko and other government officials in Kyiv, before travelling to the major Black Sea port of Odessa, where he met local officials. In a speech delivered during his visit, Lord Robertson stated: "The NATO-Ukraine relationship holds much potential that is still untapped - potential that we must exploit to the fullest". Further cooperation is therefore being encouraged, while a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission is being organised for the beginning of March in Kyiv. This will be the first time that NATO representatives and their Ukrainian counterparts hold a meeting of its kind in Ukraine. Additional information: NATO Speeches: Speech by the Rt. Hon. Lord Robertson, Secretary General of NATO at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyiv, Ukraine High resolution photos of the visit to Ukraine by NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson
31 Jan. 2000	Historic change of command Lt. Gen. Sir Mike Jackson passed command of Headquarters Allied Command Europe, Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC) to Lt. Gen. Christopher Drewry on 31 January, at the Corps' headquarters in Rheindahlen, Germany. Lt. Gen. Jackson commanded NATO's multinational deployable Corps for three years, leading it into the Balkans on two occasions: in 1995 to command ground operations in NATO's Implementation Force (IFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in 1999 to serve as HQ KFOR in command of NATO-led forces in Kosovo. ARRC is the land component of NATO's Rapid Reaction Forces and takes its direction from the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). Its missions range from peace-support operations to warfighting. (From left to right) Lt. Gen. Jackson, SACEUR Gen. Clark and Lt. Gen. Drewry
1 Feb. 2000	Exercise Adventure Express 2000 A major military exercise is currently taking place in the north of Norway. Land troops and air and naval forces from 12 NATO member countries are participating in this joint combined exercise called Exercise Adventure Express 2000. They will train in severe winter conditions from 1 February to 20 March.