NATO delegation visits Moscow to discuss military NATO-Russia cooperation
Moscow, 2 December - LtGen J. Bornemann, Director General of the International Military Staff (DG IMS), concluded his visit to Moscow in the framework of the NATO-Russia Council Military Representatives (NRC-MR) Workplan 2011. Discussions with officials and military staff of the Russian Federation Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence took place in a constructive atmosphere.
LtGen. Bornemann met with the Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, Col.Gen. Valery Gerasimov, as well as with staff planners of the Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation. He later met with the Deputy Director of the European Cooperation Department, Mr. Yuri Gorlach at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Discussions focused mainly on NATO-Russia military-to-military cooperation, Missile Defense and NATO-led operations.
On the invitation of the NATO Military Liaison Office Moscow (MLM), LtGen Bornemann spoke with experts on NATO-Russia relations: Dr. Tatiana Parkhalina, Director of the Centre for European Security, Dr. Oleg Ivanov, Professor of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian MFA and Mr. Dmitry Danilov from the Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Science.
LtGen. Bornemann then gave a lecture at the Russian General Staff Academy entitled, “From Lisbon towards Chicago: a military perspective", followed by a debate with the audience. The young Russian officers demonstrated a thorough knowledge of NATO policy and expressed their interest in NATO practices and operations.
The NATO delegation was also invited to the 5th Independent Motorized Rifle Brigade in Alabino, where they were made familiar with the role, equipment and training facilities of this unit.
Ending his visit, LtGen. Bornemann said, “The atmosphere and openness that I have encountered during this visit are promising for future cooperation between NATO and Russia. I do realise we both have our own views on certain issues, but I’m convinced we have to focus on what ties us, not on what divides us.”