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NATO, Russia discuss CFE treaty, Kosovo, missile defense |
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21:16, December 07, 2007 |
NATO and Russian foreign ministers started their meeting at NATO headquarters Friday to discuss contentious issues including the future status of Kosovo, the future of the Treaty on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), and missile defense.
The meeting came just five days before a Russian law on suspending Moscow's participation in the CFE treaty takes effect on Dec. 12.
The suspension of the CFE treaty meant that Russia would temporarily stop providing information and receiving international inspectors. During this period, Russia will not be bound by any commitment to conventional armaments.
Speaking at the opening of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) meeting, NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the NRC continues to be a key forum for political discussion on important issues between the two sides.
He acknowledged the "high-profile" of the issue of the CFE treaty, the future status of Kosovo and missile defense, where NATO and Russia differ.
However, he said the NRC remains "an indispensable forum" for political dialogue in search of solutions to all the problems.
According to de Hoop Scheffer, the Friday meeting would also discuss ways to further enhance cooperative projects undertaken in the framework of the NRC.
Among the projects are the NRC Pilot Project on Counter-Narcotics Training of Afghan and Central Asian Personnel and the Russian participation in the naval counter-terrorism Operation Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean Sea.
Source: Xinhua
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