WEBVTT 00:04.140 --> 00:06.430 Good morning . Sorry for the delay . So 00:06.430 --> 00:08.652 we'll have to keep it quite brief . But 00:08.652 --> 00:10.763 the secretary general will start with 00:10.763 --> 00:12.986 an opening statement as chairman of the 00:12.986 --> 00:16.000 NATO Russia Council Good morning . This 00:16.000 --> 00:19.610 is a significant year for NATO Russia 00:19.620 --> 00:23.360 relations . 15 years ago we 00:23.360 --> 00:26.150 signed the NATO Russia founding act , 00:26.940 --> 00:30.260 marking the first step towards our 00:30.260 --> 00:34.200 strategic cooperation . 10 years ago 00:34.210 --> 00:37.810 we created the NATO Russia Council uh 00:37.820 --> 00:39.820 to give that cooperation a stronger 00:39.820 --> 00:43.370 framework and a stronger future . Since 00:43.370 --> 00:46.760 then there have been ups and downs 00:47.240 --> 00:49.820 in some areas . We have made great 00:49.830 --> 00:53.720 progress in others . We have moved 00:53.730 --> 00:56.810 slowly but overall we have moved 00:56.810 --> 01:00.260 forward 15 years ago . 01:00.640 --> 01:03.160 Not many people would have expected 01:03.170 --> 01:05.580 nature and Russia to combat terrorism 01:05.590 --> 01:09.490 together , but we are 15 01:09.490 --> 01:11.660 years ago . Not many would have 01:11.660 --> 01:14.860 expected us to fight against a piracy , 01:15.240 --> 01:18.790 but we are . And 15 years ago , not 01:18.790 --> 01:20.901 many people would have expected us to 01:20.901 --> 01:24.080 be helping make Afghanistan more secure 01:24.080 --> 01:26.460 and stable together . But we are 01:28.840 --> 01:32.610 we expect to expand soon . The 01:32.620 --> 01:36.530 transit options offered by Russia for 01:36.530 --> 01:38.660 the NATO led mission in Afghanistan . 01:39.540 --> 01:43.120 This will allow us to send supplies 01:43.130 --> 01:46.140 to Afghanistan and from Afghanistan 01:46.140 --> 01:49.770 using the Russian rail network and air 01:49.770 --> 01:53.660 transport . We appreciate very highly 01:54.140 --> 01:57.690 Russia's contribution which is based on 01:57.700 --> 02:00.960 our shared interests and 02:00.960 --> 02:03.960 contribute to our shared security . 02:06.240 --> 02:08.890 We also discussed the Chicago summit 02:10.240 --> 02:12.790 as you know , I have agreed with 02:12.790 --> 02:15.900 President elect Putin that it would be 02:15.900 --> 02:19.180 difficult to hold a NATO Russia Council 02:19.190 --> 02:22.330 summit in Chicago but we will meet 02:22.330 --> 02:24.460 bilaterally as soon as possible . 02:25.940 --> 02:29.570 NATO has also invited Russia to 02:29.580 --> 02:32.850 participate uh in the extended 02:32.850 --> 02:36.360 Afghanistan meeting uh in Chicago 02:36.940 --> 02:40.760 because Russia clearly has an interest 02:40.770 --> 02:44.730 in regional security and in 02:44.730 --> 02:48.430 the interest of transparency and trust . 02:48.540 --> 02:51.680 We discussed the summit agenda with 02:51.690 --> 02:54.310 Minister Lavrov today , we discussed 02:54.310 --> 02:56.580 our continued engagement with 02:56.580 --> 02:59.900 Afghanistan the capabilities package 02:59.910 --> 03:03.020 that we expect to approve in Chicago as 03:03.020 --> 03:07.010 well as missile defense . We also 03:07.010 --> 03:10.440 discussed those areas where we continue 03:10.440 --> 03:13.830 to have disagreement 03:13.840 --> 03:16.760 of principle . Georgia 03:17.440 --> 03:20.940 is one such issue where 03:20.950 --> 03:24.610 NATO maintains its 03:24.620 --> 03:28.390 support for Georgia's sovereignty and 03:28.390 --> 03:31.760 territorial integrity within its 03:31.770 --> 03:34.760 internationally recognized borders . 03:37.240 --> 03:39.900 How to move forward on our missile 03:39.900 --> 03:42.070 defense . Cooperation is another issue 03:42.070 --> 03:44.292 where we have not found agreement yet . 03:45.230 --> 03:48.560 And but that is precisely the value of 03:48.560 --> 03:50.560 the NATO Russia Council we set up a 03:50.560 --> 03:54.350 decade ago . Uh we can discuss what we 03:54.350 --> 03:57.050 agree and what we don't 03:58.040 --> 04:01.050 all issues at all times . 04:02.260 --> 04:06.000 And while dialogue is not always 04:06.010 --> 04:09.270 easy , we continue exploring the 04:09.270 --> 04:12.540 options . For example , last month the 04:12.540 --> 04:16.060 NATO Russia Council ran virtual 04:16.310 --> 04:18.310 theater missile defense exercise in 04:18.310 --> 04:21.700 Germany . This is a step in the right 04:21.700 --> 04:24.280 direction and we are determined to 04:24.280 --> 04:26.420 continue in that direction 04:27.940 --> 04:30.700 because what has become clear In the 04:30.700 --> 04:33.820 last 15 years is that cooperation 04:33.830 --> 04:36.960 between NATO and Russia makes sense 04:37.640 --> 04:41.440 and it really works . It delivers more 04:41.440 --> 04:44.250 security for NATO and more security for 04:44.250 --> 04:48.190 Russia . And by increasing our 04:48.190 --> 04:51.860 security , it also builds up trust , 04:52.840 --> 04:56.510 I look forward to more corporation more 04:56.510 --> 04:59.840 security and more trust because 04:59.980 --> 05:02.250 those are vital pillars of the 05:02.250 --> 05:04.820 strategic relationship . we have agreed 05:04.830 --> 05:05.560 to develop .