Russia's new ambassador to NATO, who is thought to be an outspoken nationalist, on Wednesday came to his first meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer with a big surprise.
Dmitry Rogozin brought an axe as a symbol of peace, NATO spokesman James Appathurai told reporters.
"The Russian ambassador presented to the secretary general an axe, a tomahawk, with the intention, as he said, that we should find a way to bury the hatchet, we should find a shovel and bury the hatchet," said Appathurai.
"He has made it clear that he comes in partnership and wants to find a way to make the NATO-Russia relationship work even better than it has until now. He has also not shied away from pointing out that there are areas of fundamental difference," said the spokesman.
He said the representatives of NATO member states are looking forward to working with the Russian ambassador.
Rogozin came at a time of tension in NATO-Russia relations. Moscow is opposed to a U.S. plan to install a strategic missile defense site in Poland and the Czech Republic. All three countries are NATO members.
Russia is also wary of NATO's enlargement, particularly the possible accession of Ukraine and Georgia. The two sides also disagree on the future status of Kosovo.
Source: Xinhua
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