BELGIUM: NATO and Russia sign agreement paving the way to smoother relations

Record ID: 741341

  • Title: BELGIUM: NATO and Russia sign agreement paving the way to smoother relations
  • Date: 5th December 2009
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (DECEMBER 4, 2009) (REUTERS) LAVROV AT NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 20th December 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Belgium
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVAAC8N99GFDBS4DWEEG7XQB2YEO
  • Story Text: NATO and Russia sign agreement that will strengthen cooperation at highest-level meeting between them since Moscow sent troops into Georgia last year.
    NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in Brussels on Friday (December 4) that he believed NATO and Russia had succeeded in laying solid foundations for better future relations.
    NATO and Russia resolved a dispute which Moscow's envoy to the military alliance had said could affect prospects for increased cooperation on Afghanistan.
    "There was not a meeting of minds on all issues, for example Georgia or NATO's open door, that is to be expected. But today's meeting should make it clear that we will not and cannot let those disagreements over shadow our cooperation in other areas," said Rasmussen.
    The breakthrough led to the signing of three documents on NATO-Russia cooperation on Friday at what was the first formal ministerial meeting between the two sides since ties were frozen after Russia's brief war with Georgia last year.
    "Our aim was to agree on the foundations we need to make a fresh start in relations between NATO nations and Russia. And as a result of some very active negotiations we have achieved a solid result. First we have agreed to launch a join review of the 21st century common threats and challenges. The aim is to agree on the real threats all 29 nations face today, a list which, I am confident, will not include each other. That alone would be a major step forward, said Rasmussen.
    Russia's security proposal, published on Nov. 29, would restrict its ability to use military force unilaterally if the United States and its European allies agreed to do the same.
    Russian Medvedev has said the European Security Treaty is needed to replace Cold War-era institutions ill-suited to defusing tensions in a multi-polar world.
    NATO states have said they are willing to discuss the Russian proposal, but that the correct forum for doing so is the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
    Medvedev said in Rome on Thursday Russia was willing to do its part to help the United States and Europe achieve peace in Afghanistan and to help Kabul in its efforts to transform its economy, its military and its police forces.
    Medvedev unveiled his draft European security treaty on Sunday, saying it would end Cold War mentalities.
    He began pushing the treaty in 2008 and intensified efforts after the Russia-Georgia war, but most Western countries have paid little attention to the idea, saying that it has lacked detail.
    Many at NATO say it is an attempt to do away with the transatlantic alliance.
    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that relations were constructive and a good start.
    "Those signals, which we have received recently from the new secretary general and members of the alliance have confirmed the interest of the alliance in working constructively on a more comprehensive agenda and I think there are a lot of coinciding interests, shared interests between us and also confirmed the need to implement what the Rome declaration says in practical terms and particularly with regard to issues of security and also the inadmissability of some countries strengthening their security at the expense of others," said Lavrov NATO froze official talks within the forum last year after Russia sent troops into Georgia, and subsequently recognised the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions, to international condemnation.
    Ties have recently begun to thaw, despite lingering differences over US and NATO missile shield plans, a series of weapons treaties and the recognition of Kosovo, which broke away from Serbia last year.
    Lavrov denied that Russia was trying to stop NATO's enlargement process namely with Georgia and Ukraine, which it objects to.
    "In the Russian draft there is absolutely no attempt to try and acquire a veto over the activities of NATO. I said as much today to my colleagues. We discussed the 'open door' policy, as it is called. Of course we have also the right to express our opinions, especially when the military infrastructure of NATO is very near our borders and these are security concerns," said Lavrov
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