04 April 2008. The Heads of State and Government of the NATO Russia Council met today in Bucharest and resolved to enhance their work as 27 equal partners to respond together to the multi faceted security risks we have in common. They renewed their commitment to the goals, principles and objectives set forth in the Founding Act and the Rome Declaration. They affirmed that the NRC was conceived as a strategic element in fostering Euro Atlantic security, proceeding from the principle that the security of all states in the Euro Atlantic community, to which they belong, remains indivisible. Our partnership has already had a good history of over a decade. During that time, NRC member states have developed a political dialogue on a broad range of international security issues and concrete projects where they have common goals and interests.
As dialogue among its members has broadened and intensified, the NRC has proven to be a useful forum for frank and open exchanges including on issues where views have differed, such as: NATO’s Transformation including enlargement; missile defence; the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) and Kosovo. NRC member states will remain committed to the long-term viability of the CFE Treaty Regime. NRC member states will continue, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Rome Declaration and subsequent decisions of the NRC, to seek, through continued dialogue as part of a multi faceted approach, to facilitate resolution of outstanding CFE issues. Acknowledging differences on Kosovo, the NRC remains committed to bringing about a stable, democratic, multi ethnic, peaceful, and secure future for the Western Balkans. NRC members called on all in the Western Balkans to renounce violence and to avoid any actions that could undermine the security and rule of law in the region. Issues related to security in Kosovo remain high on their agenda. The NRC will continue its open and active dialogue on Missile Defence, despite differences on this matter.
The NRC agreed that the success of international efforts in support of the Afghan Government in promoting peace and stability in and around Afghanistan is of utmost importance. Towards that end, a mechanism has been defined to facilitate land transit through Russian territory of goods to ISAF in accordance with UNSCR 1386. Recognising the threat of narcotics trafficking in the region, the NRC today also decided to make the NRC Pilot Project for Counter Narcotics Training of Afghan and Central Asian Personnel an ongoing NRC initiative.
The fight against terrorism remains a key area of NRC cooperation. The NRC will continue its work in implementing the NRC Action Plan on Terrorism, in particular efforts to deny terrorists access to Weapons of Mass Destruction. The NRC highly values its continued naval cooperation in the framework of NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean, which continues to make a significant contribution to the fight against terrorism. The Heads of State and Government of the NRC tasked the NRC to expedite work on the NRC’s joint project to counter terrorist threats to civil aviation, the Cooperative Airspace Initiative (CAI), so that the CAI system will reach its initial operational capability by the end of 2008 and full operational capability about the end of 2009.
The NRC will continue to enhance its dialogue in support of efforts against proliferation of WMD and their means of delivery.
The Heads of State and Government of the NRC commended progress in the NRC project towards developing interoperability among respective Theatre Missile Defence systems. The NRC conducted a successful Theatre Missile Defence exercise in January 2008 in Germany. Offers put forward by other NRC members to host exercises in future were also appreciated. Defence and military cooperation within the NRC has also helped to promote interoperability and transparency. The NRC will continue to enhance military to m