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Russian Official Upbeat on Relations with NATO, EU

MOSCOW, December 11 (Itar-Tass) -- The development of Russia's relations with NATO and the European Union is a vital need, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksey Meshkov said at the international conference "Russia-NATO-EU in the changing area of security" in Moscow on Thursday.

This need stems from the most dangerous challenge of the times - international terrorism. "It is only by joint efforts that the world community can ensure the reliable world and regional security and strategic stability", Meshkov said.

He believes that besides the fight against terrorism there exists "a real need to step up cooperation in anti-crisis reacting". He said Russia had "made specific proposals on the problems of interaction with the European Union in the areas of the foreign policy, security and defence".

Meshkov said it is essential "to take specific steps in this direction right now despite the fact that the debates on the problems of security and defence have not yet been concluded in the EU framework".

He also noted that cooperation between Russia and NATO in a number of specific areas advanced further than a similar dialogue between NATO and the European Union. The development of Russia's relations with NATO shows that both sides have a "real will" for interaction. "It goes without saying that much will depend on how we will be consolidating mutual confidence and broadening cooperation on topical problems of mutual interest", Meshkov said.

He spoke positively of the prospects for the trilateral Russia-NATO-EU interaction. "It would not be right to refuse from another, very promising format Russia-EU-US", the deputy minister said.

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