25-27 Sept. 2002

NATO and Russia hold joint crisis response exercise NATO and Russia are holding their first-ever joint crisis response exercise in Noginsk, 70 km outside of Moscow, from 25 to 27 September. The exercise simulates an international response to a terrorist attack on a chemical plant. In the exercise scenario, the attack leads to mass casualties, contamination and a request for international assistance from the Russian Federation. About 700 Russian and 300 international personnel are taking part in a practice response to this scenario. Crisis response exercises are part of NATO's cooperation programme with partner countries and are organised within the Partnership for Peace Work Programme. The programme covers both consultation and practical cooperation such as military exercises and civil emergency operations. In 1998, a special unit - the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre - was created at NATO Headquarters to coordinate disaster relief efforts between NATO and partner countries. Each year, the Centre organises a crisis response exercise together with a NATO partner country in order to rehearse and practice crisis response procedures. Dealing with civil emergencies was also one of the nine areas identified as priorities for intensified NATO-Russia co-operation at the NATO-Russia Summit in May 2002. Additional information: Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre "Bogorodsk 2002" Partnership for Peace High resolution photos