13 May 2006

Yekaterinburg - defence reform in the spotlight News 12/05/2006 - NATO Science city second stop on NATO-Russia Rally 11/05/2006 - NATO NATO-Russia rally starts at the end of the line 04/05/2006 - NATO NATO-Russia Rally to take place in Russia Multimedia High resolution photos Rally map Yekaterinburg, third stop on the NATO-Russia Rally, saw academics, officials and students debating new security challenges and how armed forces can reorient themselves to tackle them. The city, like Vladivostok , the first Rally stop, was closed to foreigners – and most Russian citizens – until the 1990s. The 13 May event gave academics and students from the region a chance to engage in a very focused discussion on “New threats and common responses”. Speakers included John Colston, NATO Assistant Secretary for Defence Policy and Planning, Russian General Vladimir Bulgakov - who gave an overview of the reform of the country’s armed forces - and the UK and Czech Ambassadors to the Russian Federation . All voices heard But the event gave everyone an opportunity to weigh into the debate on NATO-Russia cooperation, including those bitterly opposed. At one point the rector of the University, Vladimir Tretyakov, gave the floor to a member of the veterans associations who was part of a group demonstrating against NATO outside the conference venue. In what was a very emotional speech, he explained his position and that of those who were demonstrating. A highlight of the day was a youth forum that gave students an opportunity to challenge the participants with questions, including over a joint lunch where they mixed with ambassadors and generals . Like the previous Rally stops, the day included a cultural programme, among which was an exhibition entitled “ Britain and Russia ”, dedicated to cooperation between the two countries in World War II. Next stop on the Rally route – Samara, 15 May, the last ‘European’ point in Russia , from which Russia started her expansion towards Siberia at the end of the 16 th century.