D r Solana, under a mandate from NATO's 16 nations, negotiated the Founding Act with the Russian Federation which was signed in Paris in May 1997 and which is establishing a new partnership of cooperation and consultation with Russia. U nder a similar, separate, mandate Dr Solana also negotiated a new relationship with Ukraine culminating in the signing of the Ukraine-NATO Charter on a Distinctive Partnership in July of 1997. D uring his term in office, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, bringing together the 16 NATO nations and 28 Partner countries was set up in Sintra, Portugal, in May, 1997. The EAPC provides a political roof for consultations and cooperation on a wide variety of security-related issues among the 44 and for Partnership for Peace activities. H e presided over the NATO Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Madrid in July 1997 when the Allies invited Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland to begin talks to join the Alliance.
H e is married with two children.