Rome, 28/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - At the official ceremony, that, for security reasons, was held at the Italian base of Pratica di Mare, near Rome, on 28 may, the Heads of State and Government of the nineteen members of NATO and Russia adopted the joint declaration creating the new NATO-Russia Council, a Council functioning according to the "at twenty" formula, on an equal footing, and replacing the old "19+1" formula of the defunct Permanent Joint Council. This document called "NATO-Russia Relations: A New Quality", seals the historic rapprochement of the past decade between NATO and Russia. Should the new co-operation work as expected, we could really speak of a new era and a historic upturn following lengthy years of East-West confrontation of close to half a century. The creation of the new Council, moreover, coincides with the fifth anniversary of the signing, in Paris, of the Founding Act that was the basis of the new relations between NATO and Russia following the Cold War.
The NATO-Russia Council will be chaired by the NATO Secretary General. It will meet at least once a month at Ambassador and military representative level, twice a year as Foreign and Defence Ministers level as well as with the Chiefs-of-Staff, and, when the occasion arises, in Summit. NATO and Russia will intensify co-operation in all fields of common interest, already defined in the Founding Act.
Today, "we opened a completely new chapter in Euro-Atlantic relations", which is a "remarkable reversal of contemporary history", bringing together States stretching "from Vancouver to Vladivostock" to seek "common solutions" in areas of common interest, declared Lord Robertson on Tuesday when opening the first meeting of the NATO-Russia Council. The new Council has "not only to speak but act"; it is a "serious obligation" to "ensure that these expectations are not disappointed", he said. As first chair of the NATO-Russia Council, he will do all his possible to make it work, he said, adding: "The success or failure of this Council does not depend on me", but you - leaders of NATO countries and Russia". Lord Robertson thus called on the leaders to "work together in the logic of common interest". He will send a text of the declaration to the Secretaries General of the UN and the OSCE.
NATO-Russia Declaration
"We the Heads of State and Government of the member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Russian Federation, have today signed a Declaration, "NATO-Russia Relations: a New Quality", establishing a new body, the NATO-Russia Council, which we are committed to making an effective forum for consensus-building, consultations, joint decisions and joint actions. "We enter into this new level of co-operation with a great sense of responsibility and equally great resolve to forge a safer and more prosperous future for all our nations", the declaration published at the end of the meeting stresses, continuing: "In the NATO-Russian Council, NATO member states and Russia will work as equal partners in areas of common interest. Building on the Founding Act and its wide range of co-operation,, the NATO-Russia Council will intensify efforts in the struggle against terrorism, crisis management, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, theater missile defence, search and rescue at sea, military-to-military co-operation and defence reform, civil emergencies, as well as in other areas. We are united in our resolve to overcome the threats and challenges of our time. "We have agreed to an ambitious work programme that will guide our co-operation in the coming months. We will pursue specific projects in areas important to Euro-Atlantic security. We are determined to produce concrete results that will benefit the peace and security of all our people, and will contribute to steadily increasing co-operation between us", the declaration concludes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who sat between the Prime ministers of Portugal and Spain (alphabetical order) stressed the extraordinary significance of the creation of the new Council. The Rome Declaration "created fundamentally new relations, even though it is only a beginning". It is not only a "declaration of intent", but really is a "question of working together constructively", he said, assuring that Russia considers the Council as a "working instrument". Co-operation at 20 must "rest on the stable foundations of international law, the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and the European Security Charter", Mr. Putin further stressed.
…/..
In an article in The Figaro, Prime Minister Tony Blair said that there is no better symbol of how the world has changed since the end of the Cold War than the summit organised in Rome. This first meeting of the NATO-Russia Council is an event that can but contribute to stabilising the world, he said, affirming that it shows a new angle in cooperation to counter the threats against "our common security, prosperity and peace" and is an "event that truly marks the end of the Cold War".
President Chirac said "we today welcome this new stage in the emergence of a more united, more harmonious continent, where, mainly thanks to the agreement signed between President Bush and President Putin in Moscow two days ago, Russia may play the role of great nation that it has never ceased to be throughout the vicissitudes of history. Thus, together, we shall be able to raise the security challenges facing the Euro-Atlantic area". He also stressed the importance of relations between Russia and the EU. "Such renewed relations with NATO must naturally be accompanied by closer links with the European Union whose global competences allow a partnership to be developed in every field. The European Union Summit - where Russia will naturally be making its contribution tomorrow in this light", said the French President.
During a press conference, Lord Robertson stressed that the impact of this new Council will be determined by the participants. He said the "mechanism necessary is in place" and should be used to contribute to a stronger, more balanced and safer world. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi welcomed Moscow's approach, stressing that, "with its history and culture", Russia "belongs to Europe". He immediately proposed that Russia enter the European Union though "gradually" of course.
The twenty leaders also urged India and Pakistan to show restraint and to find a political solution. "The presidents and prime ministers strongly urge both sides to de-escalate and to resume talking together so that their problems can be solved peacefully", said Lord Robertson.
Fifth anniversary of the Founding Act on mutual relations
On 27 May 1997, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, the NATO Secretary General at the time, Javier Solana, and the Heads of State and Government of the NATO member nations signed the Founding Act on mutual relations, cooperation and security between NATO and the Federation of Russia, which recognised that NATO and Russia were no longer adversaries and which marked the beginning of a new era of cooperation. The fifth anniversary also constitutes with the NATO-Russia Summit in Rome a turning point in relations between the two entities, stresses a NATO information release.