NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has arrived in Moscow for talks expected to focus on the possibility of Russia expanding its cooperation with NATO on Afghanistan, including providing the Afghan government with helicopters.
The Moscow talks come in advance of the Russian president's planned attendance at a summit with NATO leaders on November 20 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Rasmussen, speaking at a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said the upcoming meeting will mark a new beginning in the alliance's ties with Moscow.
"I think the summit in Lisbon will be a fresh start of the relationship between Russia and NATO," he said.
Rasmussen is to meet later with President Dmitry Medvedev.
Talks are also expected to focus on possible cooperation between NATO and Russia on a U.S.-led antimissile shield that would cover Europe to guard against potential missile threats from countries such as Iran or North Korea.
compiled from agency reports
The Moscow talks come in advance of the Russian president's planned attendance at a summit with NATO leaders on November 20 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Rasmussen, speaking at a meeting with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said the upcoming meeting will mark a new beginning in the alliance's ties with Moscow.
"I think the summit in Lisbon will be a fresh start of the relationship between Russia and NATO," he said.
Rasmussen is to meet later with President Dmitry Medvedev.
Talks are also expected to focus on possible cooperation between NATO and Russia on a U.S.-led antimissile shield that would cover Europe to guard against potential missile threats from countries such as Iran or North Korea.
compiled from agency reports