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Putin holds 'positive' Nato talks | Putin holds 'positive' Nato talks |
(30 minutes later) | |
Russian President Vladimir Putin has described as positive his talks with Nato leaders at a summit in Romania. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has described as positive his talks with Nato leaders at a summit in Romania. |
But he warned again that any Nato's expansion eastwards would be seen as a direct threat, referring to Georgia's and Ukraine's bids to join the bloc. | But he warned again that any Nato's expansion eastwards would be seen as a direct threat, referring to Georgia's and Ukraine's bids to join the bloc. |
The outgoing Russian president also expressed concerns over plans to deploy a US missile defence system in Europe. | The outgoing Russian president also expressed concerns over plans to deploy a US missile defence system in Europe. |
Nato chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the talks with Mr Putin were positive but yielded no major breakthroughs. | Nato chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the talks with Mr Putin were positive but yielded no major breakthroughs. |
The BBC's Jonathan Marcus reports from the Romanian capital of Bucharest that on the big issues, Russia and Nato do not see eye to eye. | The BBC's Jonathan Marcus reports from the Romanian capital of Bucharest that on the big issues, Russia and Nato do not see eye to eye. |
But he says a measure of how far Russia is prepared move on those issues will become clear only when Mr Putin meets US President George W Bush at the Russian leader's Black Sea residence in Sochi this weekend. | But he says a measure of how far Russia is prepared move on those issues will become clear only when Mr Putin meets US President George W Bush at the Russian leader's Black Sea residence in Sochi this weekend. |
On Friday, Mr Bush arrived in Croatia ahead of the talks in Sochi. | On Friday, Mr Bush arrived in Croatia ahead of the talks in Sochi. |
'Huge strategic mistake' | 'Huge strategic mistake' |
Mr Putin told reporters after the talks in Bucharest on Friday: "What is positive in today's dialogue is that our concerns about ensuring our own security... have been heard." | Mr Putin told reporters after the talks in Bucharest on Friday: "What is positive in today's dialogue is that our concerns about ensuring our own security... have been heard." |
Win some, lose some for USMacedonia veto stokes fearsSend us your comments | Win some, lose some for USMacedonia veto stokes fearsSend us your comments |
Mr Putin, who is stepping down as president in May, also said that he saw no possibility of a return to Cold War, arguing that it was "in nobody's interests". | Mr Putin, who is stepping down as president in May, also said that he saw no possibility of a return to Cold War, arguing that it was "in nobody's interests". |
But he again voiced strong opposition to any extension of Nato eastwards to include Ukraine and Georgia. | But he again voiced strong opposition to any extension of Nato eastwards to include Ukraine and Georgia. |
Nato has left open the option of taking in the two former Soviet republics as members, though it failed to agree a blueprint. | Nato has left open the option of taking in the two former Soviet republics as members, though it failed to agree a blueprint. |
Moscow has said the alliance's promise of eventual membership to its neighbours is "a huge strategic mistake". | Moscow has said the alliance's promise of eventual membership to its neighbours is "a huge strategic mistake". |
In Bucharest, Mr Putin also said the US missile shield in the Czech Republic and Poland - a plan that had been accepted by Nato - did not help build trust between the alliance and Russia. | In Bucharest, Mr Putin also said the US missile shield in the Czech Republic and Poland - a plan that had been accepted by Nato - did not help build trust between the alliance and Russia. |
Balkan expansion | Balkan expansion |
Mr de Hoop Scheffer said the talks with Russia had been conducted "in a positive spirit". | Mr de Hoop Scheffer said the talks with Russia had been conducted "in a positive spirit". |
The old Europe rightly asserted itself against the wishes of US President Bush Commentary in Frankfurter Rundschau Media split over Nato | |
But, he said: "I cannot report that this morning we saw stunning breakthroughs." | But, he said: "I cannot report that this morning we saw stunning breakthroughs." |
In a separate session between Nato and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko sought to reassure Russia that its bid for membership was not targeted at any other country. | In a separate session between Nato and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko sought to reassure Russia that its bid for membership was not targeted at any other country. |
Mr de Hoop Scheffer said there was "not a sliver of a doubt" that Ukraine and Georgia would join Nato before long. | Mr de Hoop Scheffer said there was "not a sliver of a doubt" that Ukraine and Georgia would join Nato before long. |
During the summit, Albania and Croatia were invited to join the 26-member alliance. | During the summit, Albania and Croatia were invited to join the 26-member alliance. |
But Macedonia was told it must solve a dispute over its name with Greece before becoming a member. | But Macedonia was told it must solve a dispute over its name with Greece before becoming a member. |
Conciliatory gesture | Conciliatory gesture |
It was President Putin's first and last appearance as president at a Nato summit. | It was President Putin's first and last appearance as president at a Nato summit. |
He leaves office next month, though he is said to be expected to serve as prime minister under president-elect Dmitry Medvedev. | He leaves office next month, though he is said to be expected to serve as prime minister under president-elect Dmitry Medvedev. |
At the beginning of Russia's session with Nato on Friday, Russia signed an agreement to allow the transport of non-military freight to Nato forces in Afghanistan. | At the beginning of Russia's session with Nato on Friday, Russia signed an agreement to allow the transport of non-military freight to Nato forces in Afghanistan. |
But the deal does not include the movement of troops or air transits that Nato had originally requested, Reuters news agency reported. | But the deal does not include the movement of troops or air transits that Nato had originally requested, Reuters news agency reported. |
In a conciliatory gesture, Nato offered Moscow the chance to look at extending the US missile defence plan to Russia itself. | In a conciliatory gesture, Nato offered Moscow the chance to look at extending the US missile defence plan to Russia itself. |
The agreement calls for steps to be taken to deploy a parallel Nato system to defend any countries not covered by the US scheme. | The agreement calls for steps to be taken to deploy a parallel Nato system to defend any countries not covered by the US scheme. |
The US says it is needed to counter a potential threat from rogue states like Iran, but Moscow had expressed fears it could be used against Russia. | The US says it is needed to counter a potential threat from rogue states like Iran, but Moscow had expressed fears it could be used against Russia. |
The Nato proposal to Russia came as US and Czech officials announced they had reached a deal to site a missile defence radar on Czech soil, while Poland and the US resumed talks in Warsaw on locating 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. | The Nato proposal to Russia came as US and Czech officials announced they had reached a deal to site a missile defence radar on Czech soil, while Poland and the US resumed talks in Warsaw on locating 10 interceptor missiles in Poland. |