NATO and Russia
June 28, 2009
After nearly a year with no formal ties, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his NATO counterparts on the Greek island of Corfu and re-convened the NATO-Russia Council.
"The NATO-Russia Council is now back in gear. We agreed not to let disagreements bring the whole train to a halt. On Georgia, there are still fundamental differences ... (But) Russia needs NATO and NATO needs Russia," said NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
And the fundamental differences between NATO and Russia will not go away, particularly when it comes to Georgia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia's recognition of two Georgian regions after last August's war is irreversible.
Russia and NATO need each other
Still, both countries have a common interest in collaborating on a number of issues such as climate change, terrorism, nuclear proliferation and Somali piracy.
Ties between NATO and Russia were frozen in the aftermath of the five day war between Russia and Georgia.
There is currently an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) peace monitoring mission in Georgia. Russia has blocked an extension of this mission, which expires on Tuesday, by insisting on a separate mandate for South Ossetia.
On Corfu, foreign ministers from the 56-member OSCE on Sunday will be discussing the situation in post-war Georgia as well as European security issues. An informal European Union review of ties with Iran over its post-election crackdwon on opposition protesters is also on the agenda.
av/gb/AFP/dpa/AP
Editor: Mark Hallam