When Russia and Georgia fought a five day war in 2008, NATO broke off military ties with Russia. But now, Russia and the alliance have agreed to start a new era of cooperation. 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.
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.
Foreign ministers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe opened talks on the Greek island of Corfu on Sunday aimed at forging a new security framework for Europe. The 56-member OSCE has launched a debate to update the 1975 Helsinki accords and adapt the continent's security apparatus to meet the modern challenges of terrorism, dependable energy supplies and political unrest. EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said on Sunday that "nothing has been finished; this is the beginning." "With events taking place (and) the new challenges of today, I think there is room to move to what we may call a Helsinki plus," Solana said.
The 56-member OSCE has launched a debate to update the 1975 Helsinki accords and adapt the continent's security apparatus to meet the modern challenges of terrorism, dependable energy supplies and political unrest.
EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said on Sunday that "nothing has been finished; this is the beginning."
"With events taking place (and) the new challenges of today, I think there is room to move to what we may call a Helsinki plus," Solana said.
