A meeting of NATO – Russia Council was held on December 4, 2009. During the meeting, the sides agreed on the Council action plan for 2010, discussed the situation in Afghanistan and the current political and military issues regarding the Euro – Atlantic space. It was the first meeting of the level since the August 2008 conflict between Georgia and Russia, after which NATO decided to renew functioning of the Council only if Russian troops were withdrawn to the pre-conflict positions. On its part, Russia announced interruption of military cooperation with NATO.

Lenta.ru, 4.decembris

http://www.lenta.ru/news/2009/12/04/three/

NATO was the organization reacting most strictly to Russia’s military intervention in Georgia, and this organization’s decision on limiting of cooperation with Russia was in force for the longest period. For example, the EU decision on suspending of the talks on new EU – Russia cooperation agreement was made in September, but after a few months, the process was restarted.

The NATO – Russia Council meeting was held less than a week after Dmitry Medvedev’s announcement of the European Security Draft Project offering a new Euro – Atlantic security system, in fact, similar to NATO. At the Council meeting’s concluding press conference, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen mentioned that the Draft Project had been one of the topics under discussion, and the NATO member states were ready to consider Russia’s proposal, however, the discussions would have to take place within OSCE. Such choice was explained by the fact that OSCE had ties with nearly all this region’s countries. And OSCE is the organization whose security concept goes far beyond just military security, allowing adding to the agreement of also the other security dimensions, in case countries consider it necessary (though, Russia might not welcome that). The format of OSCE is favourable for Russia in the meaning that it provides a possibility for receiving aid from the other CIS countries – OSCE member states. But until that, Russia will, of course, use any possibility on international scene to promote the European Security Draft Project to be subject under discussion yet.