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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Key Nato talks focused on Russia | Key Nato talks focused on Russia |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Nato foreign ministers have opened their first meeting since Barack Obama took office as US president, and ties with Russia are topping the agenda. | Nato foreign ministers have opened their first meeting since Barack Obama took office as US president, and ties with Russia are topping the agenda. |
| Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer called on ministers to acknowledge common security interests with Moscow. | Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer called on ministers to acknowledge common security interests with Moscow. |
| The ministers are expected to back the resumption of formal ties, frozen since the war between Russia and Georgia. | The ministers are expected to back the resumption of formal ties, frozen since the war between Russia and Georgia. |
| Russia's envoy to Nato defended the war and said any new relationship with Nato would be on Moscow's own terms. | Russia's envoy to Nato defended the war and said any new relationship with Nato would be on Moscow's own terms. |
| Hillary Clinton is in Brussels for what is her first formal meeting with Nato counterparts as US secretary of state. | Hillary Clinton is in Brussels for what is her first formal meeting with Nato counterparts as US secretary of state. |
| This is an opportunity for Mrs Clinton to introduce herself as the alliance prepares for a crucial summit in France and Germany at the start of next month, BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus reports from Brussels. | This is an opportunity for Mrs Clinton to introduce herself as the alliance prepares for a crucial summit in France and Germany at the start of next month, BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus reports from Brussels. |
| Our Western colleagues saw in Russia a partner that one cannot wipe one's feet on Dmitry Rogozin Russia's permanent envoy to Nato | Our Western colleagues saw in Russia a partner that one cannot wipe one's feet on Dmitry Rogozin Russia's permanent envoy to Nato |
| Nato remains the central pillar of the trans-Atlantic relationship but it is facing a critical military and political challenge in Afghanistan, where failure could call into question its whole credibility, our correspondent says. | Nato remains the central pillar of the trans-Atlantic relationship but it is facing a critical military and political challenge in Afghanistan, where failure could call into question its whole credibility, our correspondent says. |
| US foreign policy is now very much a team game and US Vice-President Joe Biden will be in Brussels next Tuesday for a more detailed exchange of views on Afghanistan, our correspondent adds. | US foreign policy is now very much a team game and US Vice-President Joe Biden will be in Brussels next Tuesday for a more detailed exchange of views on Afghanistan, our correspondent adds. |
| 'A positive agenda' | 'A positive agenda' |
| In his opening remarks, Mr Scheffer stressed the importance to the alliance of relations with Russia: | In his opening remarks, Mr Scheffer stressed the importance to the alliance of relations with Russia: |
| Today's visit may be dominated by... Russia but Afghanistan remains the trickiest subject Mark Mardell, BBC Europe Editor Blog: Europe's Afghan challenge | |
| "I think we need to reflect on a positive agenda that befits the importance of Nato and Russia to European and indeed global security. | "I think we need to reflect on a positive agenda that befits the importance of Nato and Russia to European and indeed global security. |
| "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: Afghanistan is one, but counter-terrorism and the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are others." | "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: Afghanistan is one, but counter-terrorism and the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are others." |
| UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband called for the resumption of formal ties with Russia through the Nato-Russia council. | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband called for the resumption of formal ties with Russia through the Nato-Russia council. |
| Any Nato decision must be backed by all 26 of its members | Any Nato decision must be backed by all 26 of its members |
| "Russia needs the West as much as the West needs to re-engage with Russia," he said. | "Russia needs the West as much as the West needs to re-engage with Russia," he said. |
| Some, like Germany and France, have long been pressing for the resumption of ties, arguing that their suspension has been counter-productive. | Some, like Germany and France, have long been pressing for the resumption of ties, arguing that their suspension has been counter-productive. |
| "We will not block because there are lots of issues Nato and Russia need to co-operate on, like transit to Afghanistan, Iran, the Middle East, non-proliferation," said Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. | "We will not block because there are lots of issues Nato and Russia need to co-operate on, like transit to Afghanistan, Iran, the Middle East, non-proliferation," said Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. |
| However, his Lithuanian counterpart, Vygaudas Usackas, said he believed it was "premature to open the formal dialogue". | However, his Lithuanian counterpart, Vygaudas Usackas, said he believed it was "premature to open the formal dialogue". |
| 'Our terms' | 'Our terms' |
| Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's permanent envoy to Nato, predicted an outcome of the Brussels talks "that should, on the whole, satisfy Russia" but made clear he saw Moscow negotiating from a position of strength. | Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's permanent envoy to Nato, predicted an outcome of the Brussels talks "that should, on the whole, satisfy Russia" but made clear he saw Moscow negotiating from a position of strength. |
| "We came out of the crisis that we had after the August 2008 events [the war with Georgia], the crisis in the South Caucasus, stronger," he told Russian channel Vesti TV. | "We came out of the crisis that we had after the August 2008 events [the war with Georgia], the crisis in the South Caucasus, stronger," he told Russian channel Vesti TV. |
| "Our Western colleagues saw in Russia a partner that one cannot wipe one's feet on. We are strong... and we are restoring cooperation, including on our terms." | "Our Western colleagues saw in Russia a partner that one cannot wipe one's feet on. We are strong... and we are restoring cooperation, including on our terms." |
| Nato will, nonetheless, be trying to show that more normal business with Russia does not mean that the alliance is abandoning countries like Georgia and Ukraine, our correspondent says. Their foreign ministers will be in Brussels too. | Nato will, nonetheless, be trying to show that more normal business with Russia does not mean that the alliance is abandoning countries like Georgia and Ukraine, our correspondent says. Their foreign ministers will be in Brussels too. |