Foreign Minister Maris Riekstiņš emphasises role of reciprocity and transparency in shaping successful NATO-Russia dialogue [23 Apr 2010]

On 23 April in Tallinn, during the second working day of the NATO Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the focus of the ministers' debate were on the relations between NATO and Russia.

During the discussion on the Alliance's relations with Russian Federation, the Foreign Minister of Latvia noted confidence building, reciprocity and transparency as priorities and preconditions for further development of those relations. "The areas where interests of NATO and Russia converge, have been identified, and include stabilising the situation in Afghanistan, fighting terrorism and piracy, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and other practical co-operation issues. A regular dialogue on a continued practical co-operation has to be sustained within the framework of NATO–Russia Council," Foreign Minister Māris Riekstiņš noted.

Furthermore, when dealing with the political dimension of those relations, Minister Riekstiņš emphasised that the Russian side should also be engaged in discussions concerning the matters on which NATO and Russia have differing opinions. As regards the initiative by the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev proposing a new European Security Treaty, the Foreign Minister of Latvia emphasised the leading role of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in the debate on the elements of this treaty, and indicated that, in order to estimate further course, it was important to wait for the results of the OSCE foreign ministers' discussions.

The Meeting of Foreign Ministers NATO member countries will conclude with a working session involving partners within the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) that will address the current situation in Afghanistan and the issue of a gradual transfer of responsibility to the Afghan government.