(24.11.03) Defence Minister Kristin Krohn Devold today visited Moscow where she met her Russian colleague Sergei Ivanov. This is a reciprocal visit following Defence Minister Ivanov’s visit to Oslo in July last year. One of the principal topics discussed was the continued strengthening of the bilateral cooperation between our two countries. Devold inspects Russian guard of honour

Russia is a very important collaborative partner both because of our common problems in the northern areas and because Russia is a major power with very considerable influence in the field of security, both in Europe and globally. Close cooperation between Norway and Russia in matters of defence policy will be of benefit in many other areas, not least where the northern areas are concerned.

After their meeting the two Defence Ministers expressed great satisfaction with the talks which both regarded as constructive. Points on which agreement was reached included further development of the plan of action for defence-related cooperation between the two countries. This cooperation includes, for example, the exchange of military experience, exchange visits between military units and joint training activities. The Russian side expressed a wish for a Norwegian Air Force squadron to visit Lipetsk following the corresponding Russian visit to Bodø in October.

“Such discussions serve to reinforce relations between our two countries, something which is of particular importance in the context of the common problems that we have in the northern area,” says Krohn Devold.

In addition to aspects of bilateral cooperation, subjects discussed also included Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation (AMEC), a programme of cooperation between Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway, which is intended to address military-related environmental concerns associated with radioactive and other hazards in the area of the Kola peninsula. Cooperation in the NATO-Russia Council was also discussed. The talks also touched on the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the latest developments in Georgia.

This last year has seen a relatively high level of activity with regard to meetings between Norwegian and Russian defence representatives. On the military side, the Chiefs of Staff of each of the armed services, with the exception of the Chief of Staff Norwegian Home Guard, have all visited Russia for meetings with their opposite numbers. The purpose of such meetings is to identify new areas for cooperation, including some at relatively low military level, and to further strengthen the good relations that exist between the military leaders of our two countries.

“A good example is the visit to Russia by the Chief of Staff of the Norwegian Air Force earlier this year which in turn gave rise to the visit made by a fighter squadron of the Russian Air Force to Bodø in October. This was in many ways a historic visit which can pave the way for an equally historic return visit to Russia by a Norwegian Air force squadron next year,” says Defence Minister Kristin Krohn Devold.