5 March 2001

Russian and NATO parliamentarians at NATO HQ Parliamentarians from Russia and NATO countries met at NATO HQ on 5-6 March to discuss a number of fundamental issues ranging from political, military, scientific and environmental cooperation to communication problems and the need to reinforce opportunities for dialogue. This was the third meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Russian Federal Assembly Joint Monitoring Group. It was also the first time the group had convened since the Russian Duma suspended relations with the NATO PA on 24 March 1999. The Joint Monitoring Group was created in May 1998, after the signing of the NATO-Russia Founding Act in 1997, to monitor the progress in NATO-Russia relations and develop a parliamentary dimension to this cooperation. Participants in this year's meeting included members of the State Duma, the First Deputy Speaker, members of the Federation Council and several parliamentary committee chairmen; the NATO PA Delegation comprised the President of the NATO PA, Mr Rafael Estrella, the Vice-President, Committee chairmen and other NATO PA Representatives.