NATO Urges Russia to Implement 1999 Commitments for Troop Withdrawal

In a final Communique published on June 28, following sessions of the North Atlantic Council in Istanbul, Turkey, NATO urged Russia for “a swift resolution of the outstanding issues between Georgia and Russia as set out in their Istanbul Joint Statement in 17 November 1999” and to this end, called “upon the parties to resume negotiations at an appropriately senior level.”

At the same time, NATO has officially linked “fulfilment of the remaining Istanbul commitments on the Republic of Georgia and the Republic of Moldova” with ratification of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) treaty by the alliance members.

Russia, which failed to meet 1999 Istanbul summit deadlines for troop withdrawal from Georgia and Moldova, has long opposed linking of the CFE ratification by NATO members to fulfillment of these commitments.

Moscow is concerned that without CFE ratification by the Baltic states, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, NATO would increase its military presence in these new member states.