Message

Rolf Welberts, the newly appointed Head of the Russia/Ukraine Section in NATO, in an address to the NATO PAÂ’s NATO-Russia Parliamentary Committee in Reykjavik, said that NATO Russia co-operation has come a long way since the signature in 2002 of the NATO-Russia Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Co-operation and Security, which offers a unique forum for political and practical cooperation

Nevertheless, despite good practical co-operation on projects such as the Action Plan on Terrorism, the co-operative airspace initiative, theatre missile defence, the pilot project for Counter-Narcotics Training of Afghan and central Asian personnel, there is still a lot to do to maintain what has been achieved and to reach more ambitious goals. This is particularly true for military co-operation and air lifting. Â“Are we witnessing a change of attitudeÂ” asked Mr. Welberts Â“or merely a step back to pause and think that will eventually result in a new impetus for NATO-Russia co-operation?Â” He emphasised that NATO Allies and Russia, despite differences of opinion, had common interests that could provide a solid basis for further increased co-operation.

NATO-Russia relations are facing problems, the NATO official indicated, because of real or perceived disagreements between the two sides over such issues as CFE, missile defence, Kosovo and the AllianceÂ’s enlargement. Several NATO Parliamentarians also expressed concerns over a host of recent developments in Russia which they feared could lead to a deterioration in relations with NATO countries. However, Russian participants strongly rebutted those fears, which they said were groundless.

Yuri Gorlatch - Deputy Director at the European Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation - who also spoke at the meeting in Reykjavik, said that Russia is still undergoing a difficult transition period and it was important to enhance the ability to work together for Â“common interests of strategic importanceÂ” and not isolate Russia or create a new Cold War.

Mirroring the creation of the NATO-Russia Council, the NATO PA has created the NATO-Russia parliamentary Committee to allow discussions at the level of 27. Meeting twice a year during sessions, the Committee has become the main framework for direct NATO-Russia parliamentary relations.

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Roberta Calorio
Rose-Roth Seminar and Media Relations co-ordinator
Executive Office

NATO Parliamentary Assembly
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