Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between NATO and the Russian Federation

Paris, France - 27 May 1997

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization and its member States, on the one hand, and the Russian Federation, on the other hand, hereinafter referred to as NATO and Russia, based on an enduring political commitment undertaken at the highest political level, will build together a lasting and inclusive peace in the Euro-Atlantic area on the principles of democracy and cooperative security.

NATO and Russia do not consider each other as adversaries. They share the goal of overcoming the vestiges of earlier confrontation and competition and of strengthening mutual trust and cooperation. The present Act reaffirms the determination of NATO and Russia to give concrete substance to their shared commitment to build a stable, peaceful and undivided Europe, whole and free, to the benefit of all its peoples. This commitment at the highest political level marks the beginning of a new relationship between NATO and Russia. They intend to develop a strong, stable and enduring partnership.

This Act defines the goals and mechanism of consultation, cooperation, joint decision-making and joint action that will constitute the core of the mutual relations between NATO and Russia.

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Principles

The present Act is based on the principles of indivisibility of security in the Euro-Atlantic area and the strengthening of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In strengthening the OSCE, NATO and Russia will cooperate to prevent any possibility of a return to a divided and confrontational Europe. NATO and Russia will work together to contribute to the establishment of common and comprehensive security in the Euro-Atlantic area based on the principles of democracy, human rights and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

In this context, NATO and Russia will be guided by the following principles:

• development, on the basis of transparency, of a strong, stable, enduring and equal partnership and of cooperation to strengthen security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area;
• acknowledgement of the vital role that democracy, political pluralism, the rule of law and respect for human rights and civil liberties and the development of free market economies play in the development of common prosperity and comprehensive security;
• refraining from the threat or use of force against each other as well as against any other state, its sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence in any manner inconsistent with the United Nations Charter and with the Declaration of Principles Guiding Relations between Participating States contained in the Helsinki Final Act;
• respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states and their inherent right to choose the means to ensure their own security, the inviolability of borders and peoples’ right of self-determination as enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act and other OSCE documents;
• mutual transparency in creating and implementing defence policy and military doctrines;
• prevention of conflicts and settlement of disputes by peaceful means as well as the promotion of political and diplomatic solutions to conflicts;
• fostering of mutual confidence and transparency in the military field, including through the development of an adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty;
• commitment to continue the political-military adaptation of their armed forces to the new security challenges in Europe;
• commitment to the full implementation of the CFE Treaty and the START Treaties;
• commitment to pursue the objectives of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention;
• commitment to the principles of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security.

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The NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council

To carry out the activities and aims described in this Act, NATO and Russia will create the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council. The central objective of this Permanent Joint Council will be to build increasing levels of trust, unity of purpose and habits of consultation and cooperation between NATO and Russia, in order to enhance each other’s security and that of all nations in the Euro-Atlantic area and diminish the security of none.

The Permanent Joint Council will provide a mechanism for consultations, coordination and, to the maximum extent possible, where appropriate, for joint decisions and joint action with respect to security issues of common concern. The consultations will not extend to internal matters of either NATO, NATO member States or Russia.

The shared objective of NATO and Russia is to identify and pursue as many opportunities for joint action as possible. As the relationship develops, they expect that additional opportunities for joint action will emerge.

The Permanent Joint Council will be the principal venue of consultation between NATO and Russia in times of crisis or for any other situation affecting peace and stability. Extraordinary meetings of the Council will take place in addition to its regular meetings to allow for prompt consultations in case of emergencies. In this context, NATO and Russia will promptly consult within the Permanent Joint Council in case one of the Council members perceives a threat to its territorial integrity, political independence or security.

The activities of the Permanent Joint Council will be built upon the principles of reciprocity and transparency. In the course of their consultations and cooperation, NATO and Russia will inform each other of the respective security-related challenges they face and of the measures that each intends to take to address them.

Provisions of this Act do not provide NATO or Russia, in any way, with a right of veto over the actions of the other nor do they infringe upon or restrict the rights of NATO or Russia to independent decision-making and action. They cannot be used as a means to disadvantage the interests of other states.