Press Release M-DM-1(97)114 Maastricht, 2 Oct. 1997

Press Guidelines for the Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers Maastricht, The Netherlands, 1st and 2nd October The Defence Ministers and Representatives of the Alliance met informally in Maastricht, The Netherlands, on 1st and 2nd October. They discussed the situation in the former Yugoslavia, including the challenges to be addressed as part of SFOR's mandate; the internal adaptation of the Alliance, including the development of the Alliance's new command structure and of the European Security and Defence Identity within NATO; and NATO's external adaptation, including the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the enhancement of the Partnership for Peace and the defence aspects of the accession of new members. Alliance Ministers also met informally with the new Russian Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev, with whom they discussed matters of mutual interest, and in particular military contacts and other defence-related aspects of NATO-Russian relations. NATO Ministers held an informal meeting with the Defence Ministers of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, for an exchange of views including the preparations of these states to assume the defence and military obligations of Alliance membership. The Ministers expressed their appreciation to their Netherlands colleague, Minister Voorhoeve, for hosting the meeting.