Meeting of Russia-NATO Council at Defence Ministers' level scheduled for December 1

A meeting of the Russia-NATO Council at the level of defence ministers will be held on December 1, Vice Admiral Valentin Kuznetsov, Russia's senior representative to NATO, told journalists on Thursday.

"Now we concentrate on preparations for the meeting having a traditional agenda. Defence ministers usually discuss only one issue - the priorities of our coop. Naturally, they will sum up the results of their work and set tasks for the future," Kuznetsov said.

"Usually we prepare joint statements containing political directives which are approved by defence ministers. Further actions of our defence ministry and general staff are guided by these directions. I believe this document will include main events for 2004," Russia's senior representative to NATO noted.

"This document will necessarily contain tasks on active anti-aircraft defence exercises in Colorado Springs /USA/ next spring. Our work concentrates on the problem of compatibility. It can involve computer equipment and virtual use of various means of anti-aircraft defence," Kuznetsov said.

"These exercises will let us check the recent concept of operations on crisis settlement from the point of view of anti-aircraft defence. As a result this concept can be changed," the vice admiral said.