Nato to resume formal ties with Russia

NATO agreed last night to resume formal ties with Russia, suspended after Moscow’s war with Georgia, in the hope of winning Russian backing for its struggle to stabilise Afghanistan.

“We can and must find ways to work constructively with Russia where we share areas of common interest, including helping the people of Afghanistan,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.

Russia immediately welcomed the move, which was agreed at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers.

“This decision is positive,” its ambassador to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, told a news conference, calling it “promising in terms of stability and security in Afghanistan.”

However, he regretted ties would only be formally resumed after a Nato summit in April.

“Russia is in no hurry on Afghanistan, but Nato indeed should be hurrying and we are just surprised this issue of the resuming of practical work is postponed another month.”

Before the Nato meeting, Russia had said it would allow transit of non-lethal US military supplies for Afghanistan.

With its supply lines under pressure from militant attacks, Nato hopes in future such help could be extended to air transit, air lift and routes for lethal aid.

It also hopes to see Russian cooperation in encouraging Central Asian states to allow the passage of Nato supplies, and in keeping open bases used by Nato forces, one of which is about to be closed down by Kyrgyzstan.

Alliance member Lithuania had blocked quick agreement to resume cooperation with Moscow through the Nato-Russia Council, the body that directs dialogue between the two sides on security issues, but later dropped its objections.

Nato had suspended cooperation in protest at Russia’s war last August with Georgia, an aspiring member of the alliance.

“The ministers reached agreement to formally resume the Nato-Russia Council including at ministerial level . . . as soon as possible after the NATO April summit,” Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said.

“Russia is a global player. Not talking to them is not an option,” he added.

The military alliance said differences remained with Moscow and de Hoop Scheffer urged Russia to fully meet its commitments regarding Georgia.

Nato members are concerned about a build-up of Russia’s military presence in breakaway Georgian regions and say this violates Georgian territorial integrity and goes against a French-brokered ceasefire deal.