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| Updated: 27-Nov-2001 | Week of 19-25 November 2001 |
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A new impetus to NATO-Russia relations
NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson has just returned from a three-day visit to Russia, 21-23 November, where he travelled to Moscow and Volgograd, in the south of the country. During his trip, Lord Robertson met with government officials and visited schools and academic institutions where he gave speeches on the evolution of NATO-Russia relations. On 23 November, he met with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in Moscow, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Igor Ivanov and the President of the Russian National Security Council, Vladimir Rushailo. Previously on 22 November, he had met with the Minister of Defence, Sergey Ivanov.
In Moscow, he also gave a speech at the Diplomatic Academy on "A new quality in the NATO-Russia relationship". In his speech, he announced that discussions were underway to reinforce NATO-Russia relations in light of the recent terrorist attacks against the United States and the fight against terrorism that has followed. He stated that he had already presented President Putin with "a package of initial proposals for more detailed and substantive cooperation. These, of course, include several initiatives designed to deepen our cooperation in combating terrorism". He added that he had "also proposed an intensified programme of joint exercises designed to enhance our interoperability in such areas as air transport and air-to-air refuelling." In the industrial city of Volgograd, the Secretary General gave a speech
at the State Polytechnic University on "NATO and Russia: a special
relationship". He met local officials and was shown around some
of the city's historic monuments. Additional information:
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