Concerning the Accession of Russia to the Agreement on the Legal Status of the Armed Forces of NATO and the States Participating in the Partnership for Peace Program When Present on Each Other's Territory

Unofficial translation from Russian

PRESS RELEASE

On April 21 Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov on behalf of the Russian Federation signed the Agreement regulating the stay of the signatories' forces on each other's territory. The accession of Russia to this document has a great significance for the advancement of Russian military cooperation with NATO. New possibilities are opening up for the implementation of the projects of the Russia-NATO Council program that without a sufficient legal basis could not be carried out in full.

It is primarily about training exercises in the field of peacekeeping, theater missile defense, and measures for antiterrorist preparedness of troops as well as preparedness for emergencies.

The sides are certain that this step will substantially strengthen the legal framework of practical cooperation between Russia and NATO. It only remains to complete the procedure of ratification for the Agreement. We expect this to be done quite promptly so as to embark on carrying out the planned military cooperation activities within the framework of the Russia-NATO Council.

April 21, 2005