NATO chief calls for re-evaluation of Russia relations (Roundup)

Nov 18, 2008, 14:46 GMT

Valencia, Spain - Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said Tuesday that the alliance should re-evaluate its relations with Russia without severing them.

The relations should be reconsidered after Russia's 'disproportionate' use of force in Georgia, but not broken because they were a 'strategic asset,' Scheffer said at the 54th annual meeting of the NATO parliamentary assembly.

The assembly adopted a resolution urging Russia to respect the sovereignty of other nations as about 300 delegates from 50 countries were wrapping up their five-day meeting in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili advised European powers not to consider the 'invasion' of his country by Russia as an isolated case, warning that 'all of Europe' could see 'more Georgias.'

Saakashvili described the military conflict in August as 'the most flagrant violation of international law since the Second World War' and said the ceasefire was being violated, a situation which could re-ignite the conflict.

NATO parliamentary assembly president Jose Lello said NATO needed to maintain an 'open communications channel' with Russia, but that the communication should be 'sincere and direct.'

The assembly approved several resolutions. It called on NATO countries to intensify their peacekeeping effort in Afghanistan, to help train Afghan security forces, to promote democracy and fight drug trafficking in the Asian country.

The assembly, whose resolutions are not binding, also said NATO should remain committed to securing peace in Kosovo through the necessary international military and civilian presence.

John Craddock, the NATO supreme allied commander in Europe, said the alliance's military command was concerned about the Iranian nuclear programme, urging the NATO to develop its long-range missile defence.