Meeting Of Nato - Russia Council Held

ISTANBUL - Meeting of NATO-Russia Council, which was held during NATO Istanbul Summit, ended on Monday.
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said that the atmosphere of the meeting was very positive and added that Council held a more constructive meeting when compared with Rome Summit that was held two years ago.
Noting that 27 countries have convened as equal partners today, Scheffer said that they have taken up issues including prevention of expansion of mass destruction weapons and Afghanistan.
Scheffer said that NATO and Russia were planning to make cooperation in prevention of expansion of mass destruction weapons, practical cooperation in Afghanistan and search and rescue activities at seas. He added that Russia's participation in naval exercises of NATO was important for the joint activities which would be held in the future.
Scheffer said that there was not a consensus between NATO and Russia on every issue, adding that Russia had concerns regarding the enlargement of NATO.
(GC-AÖ) 28.06.2004