22 Febr 2001

Working toward a NATO-Russia strategic partnership An international conference on "Russia-NATO Strategic Partnership: not whether but when?" was held in St Petersburg on 22 February 2002. High-level participants from NATO and Partner countries, including the US Ambassador to Russia, Alexander Vershbow, and Dr. Irina Hakamada, Vice-Speaker of the Duma and member of the Union of the Rightist Forces addressed the conference, which focused on the state of NATO-Russia relations in the political and military spheres and prospects for further development. Other issues discussed were the challenges in establishing a political dialogue between NATO and Russia and the question of Russian membership of NATO, NATO-Russia cooperation in the anti-terrorist campaign and public opinion on NATO-Russia relations in Russia and Western Europe. Participants also discussed freedom of the press in Russia, the evolution of NATO's strategy, the role of the military in NATO's decision making process and the impact of NATO enlargement on the internal processes of the Alliance. The conference was organised by the School of International Relations, St Petersburg State University and was co-sponsored by NATO.