From NATO:  On 14 February 2013, General Knud Bartels, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee and Chairman of the NRC Military Representatives, initiated a historical phone call with Colonel-General Valeriy Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation , enhancing military-to-military cooperation and promoting transparency between NATO and Russia.

As agreed at the NATO-Russia Council meeting in Chiefs of Staff session last month, NATO and Russian Military Authorities implemented a common secure line of communication between their offices to strengthen their relationship and bring military-to-military cooperation to a new level of trust and transparency.

They discussed issues of mutual interest, including ongoing cooperation in the NRC. Bartels also shared with his Russian counterpart his views and impressions from his recent trip to Afghanistan, emphasizing appreciation for the cooperation with Russia on the issue of redeployment.

Pleased with the phone call, the generals agreed to stay in touch on a regular basis.   (photo: NATO)

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