28-30 Sep. 2004

NATO and Russia hold procedural exercise News 22/09/04 - NATO NATO and Russia to conduct a procedural exercise on 28-30 September 2004 Background NATO-Russia Council NATO-Russia relations The procedures for launching a joint NATO-Russia peacekeeping operation were examined in a two-day exercise held at NATO Headquarters between 28 and 30 September. This was the first time ever that NATO and Russia have held such an exercise. It reflects a growing determination of the NATO member states and the Russian Federation to work together in addressing jointly today's complex security challenges. In the exercise, the 27 member countries of the NATO-Russia Council were confronted with a fictional international crisis situation that required the generation of a joint peacekeeping force to enforce a UN-sponsored peace agreement. In the space of three days, civilian and military decision-makers in Brussels and from the capitals had to analyse the situation and consider general political guidelines for the planning that would be necessary for the envisaged joint operation. Preparing for joint operations The exercise addressed the political aspects of the procedures for the planning and conduct of joint NATO-Russia peacekeeping operations, which were agreed by the 27 nations in 2002. A number of practical issues were identified for subsequent discussion in the NATO-Russia Council.