NATO Strategic Concept to be discussed in Moscow

From 9th to 12th February 2010, the Group of Experts on the NATO Strategic Concept will visit Moscow at the invitation of the Russian Federation. As part of the reflection period, the group, under the leadership of Dr. Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State, will participate in discussions with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of the National Security Council, Nikolay Patrushev and will meet with the members of the Duma, Lower House of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.

The Group of Experts will use these meetings as an opportunity to listen, gather ideas and hear various points of view.

In informal exchanges, members of the group will also engage with leading Russian security experts.

On Thursday, 11th February, Dr. Albright will deliver remarks at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations followed by a discussion with students and guests. The event will be open to the media.

In 2009, the NATO Secretary General appointed a group of 12 experts to facilitate the reflection and consultation phase in the preparation of the new strategic concept. The group represents a broad spectrum of large and small NATO members and offers a balanced combination of insiders and outsiders, including from the private sector, think tanks and the academic communityDr.Albright chairs the group with Mr. Jeroen van der Veer, former CEO in Royal Dutch Shell, as vice-chair.