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Chapter 3: The Opening Up of the Alliance Cooperation between NATO and Russia   The NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council Under the Founding Act, the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council (PJC) was created as a forum for regular consultation on security issues of common concern. Its aim was to build mutual confidence and help overcome misperceptions through dialogue and the development of a substantial programme of security and defence-related cooperation. As a rule, the PJC met on a monthly basis at the level of Ambassadors and military representatives and twice a year at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, as well as at the level of Chiefs of Staff or Chiefs of Defence. On 18 March 1998, the Russian Federation formally established its Mission to NATO and appointed a Senior Military Representative as an integral part of its Mission, to facilitate military and defence-related cooperation. In the five years of its existence, the PJC addressed a wide range of topics of direct interest to both sides. Among them were: the situation in the Balkans; military matters discussed in meetings of Military Representatives under the auspices of the PJC; measures to promote cooperation, transparency and confidence between NATO and Russia; the contribution by NATO and Russia and the role of the PJC to the security architecture of the Euro-Atlantic region; political and defence efforts against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; nuclear weapons issues; strategies and doctrines of NATO and Russia; peacekeeping; disarmament and arms control; search and rescue at sea; retraining of military officers; combating terrorism; defence-related scientific cooperation; defence-related environmental issues; civil emergency planning and disaster relief. Under the political umbrella of the PJC, a close network of working groups, experts’ meetings, joint projects and staff level contacts emerged, to follow-up and implement consultations in the PJC itself.