NATO chief calls for renewed relations with Russia

Mar 5, 2009, 13:23 GMT

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton jokes during a goup photo with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini (C) and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband (R) after first meeting during the Nato Foreign ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium, 05 March 2009. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer called for the alliance to resume top-level talks with Russia which have been frozen since last August\'s war in Georgia. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET

Brussels - NATO and Russia should bury the hatchet and work together to defeat the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan, prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction and quash global terrorism, the transatlantic alliance's chief told NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday.

'We need to reflect on a positive agenda that befits the importance of NATO and Russia to European, and indeed global, security,' NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said as he called on ministers to resume meetings of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC).

'While not shying away at all from the serious differences of opinion that remain between NATO and Russia, in particular about Georgia, we also acknowledge that we have obvious common interests with Russia,' such as Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, he said.

The NRC, which acts as the main forum for direct talks between the sides, was suspended by the alliance in the aftermath of Russia's August invasion of Georgia and Moscow's subsequent recognition of the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

But there is now a consensus within the 26-member alliance that such meetings should resume.

'The crisis which is now behind us militarily ... cannot leave us in a situation where we refuse to talk,' said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, a long-time advocate of reconciliation with Moscow.

Britain's David Miliband, whose country has been traditionally wary of Moscow's renewed assertiveness, was equally conciliatory, saying that despite Russia's role in Georgia, 'NATO and Russia need to work together.'

'I think it is important that NATO move to re-establish the NATO- Russian Council. I think that gives us an opportunity to put our concerns directly to the Russians. It also allows us to engage on issues of mutual concern in a number of areas,' Miliband said.

But while Italy's Franco Frattini said the resumption of NRC talks would be 'a step in the right direction', his Lithuanian counterpart, Vygaudas Usackas, warned colleagues that NATO's credibility could suffer if it rushed to re-open talks.

'I think we have to make an honest assessment on whether sufficient progress was made if ... we want Russia to take our words seriously. I think it's a bit premature to open formal dialogue,' Usackas said.

Thursday's meeting was the first to be attended by US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who US officials said would be offering a listening ear to allies.

'I think we can conclude that there is a fresh wind in NATO, and also, hopefully, a new atmosphere of cooperation,' said Steinmeier.

'We will need both because our tasks will not get any easier,' Steinmeier said.

NATO officials said much of Thursday morning's discussions would be devoted to beefing up the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and finalizing its role in providing security during the August 20 presidential and provincial elections.

The administration of President Barack Obama is busy putting the finishing touches to its strategic review of the war against the Taliban insurgency and has already announced the deployment of a 'surge' of an additional 17,000 troops in Afghanistan.