25 Jun 2007
A special NATO-Russia seminar in St. Petersburg, 25 June, kicked off a two-day commemoration of the five-year anniversary of the NATO-Russia Council and the ten-year anniversary of the NATO-Russia partnership.
The seminar on "Modern Risks and Security Threats: The Role of the NATO-Russia Council", was attended by representatives of the 27 NATO-Russia Council countries and chaired by the NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
“We should seek to meet the common challenges before us through cooperation, rather than through confrontation,” said Mr. De Hoop Scheffer in his opening remarks.
The co-chairman of the meeting, the President of the Federation Council, Sergey Mironov, stressed that there were no confrontational tendencies in Russia’s relations with NATO.
He also added that these relations are a subject of discussion and of interest to the broad public opinion in Russia.
The event brought together NATO representatives, Russian government officials, academics and journalists.
Participants were welcomed to the seminar by the Vice governor of St. Petersburg, Mr. Viktor Lobko.
The commemoration will continue with a special meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in Moscow, 26 June.
The Secretary General will also hold bilteral talks with President Putin at the Kremlin.
