event
Sir Stewart Eldon's account of the NATO-Russia Council Ministerial, Corfu
| Start Date | Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:30:00 |
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| End Date | Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:00:00 |
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Saturday 27 June, 1030 Brussels Time, Over the Alps
Sitting in the NATO plane en route to the NATO-Russia Council Ministerial in Corfu.
After a quick turn-round from Istanbul, I met my colleague, Rob Contractor, at Brussels Military Airport. He briefs me on the latest state of play. It now looks as though the Russians are doubtful about formal outcomes from the meeting but looking forward to a good political discussion. On the flight down, news emerges that Prime Ministers Karamanlis and Berlusconi will attend the Ministerial in person.
Saturday 27 June, 1900 Brussels time, Corfu
Outside the hotel waiting for the bus to the airport.
The NATO-Russia Council meeting's over. It lasted over half an hour longer than scheduled. There were long statements from Prime Minister Berlusconi and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. Several colleagues congratulated me on David Milliband's intervention.
Ministers got through quite a lot of substance. Inevitably there was strong disagreement over Russian actions in Georgia and their vetoing of the recent UN Security Council Resolution on UNOMIG. But there was a real welcome for the fact that the NRC was meeting again at Ministerial level. Lavrov urged using the Council to build confidence and develop practical co-operation (on which, given political will, I think a lot could be done on issues such as support for the NATO operation in Afghanistan, Counter-Narcotics, and Counter-Terrorism). But Russian concerns remain about what they see as NATO encroachment into their neighbourhood.
Summing up, the Secretary General, who was chairing his last NRC meeting, underlined the need for continuing high level iinterest in its work. Ambassadors in Brussels would now have the task of fleshing out the dialogue. He detected some positive momentum and hoped there would be a full discussion of the issues. It would benefit both sides if military-to-military co-operation could resume soon.
Now back to Brussels to pack again for a week of assessing at an FCO Asessment & Development Centre in the UK. One of my corporate contributions to the work of the Office.
