Belgium, Brussels, Jan. 19 / Trend , A.Ismayilova / Nato will review its relations with Russia in coming months, Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said at a meeting with journalists in Brussels on Jan. 19.
" Nato needs Russia and Russia needs Nato . We are important partners," he said.
The relations between Nato and Russia will be the key issue in coming months, Scheffer said.
The Foreign Ministers of the Nato countries met in Brussels on Dec. 2-3. The allies agreed to apply weighted and phased approach to Russia in the coming future, i.e., to restore political interaction with Russia and to hold informal discussions at the Russia- Nato Council.
In August, 2008, the operation of the Russia- Nato Council was suspended due to five-day war between Russia and Georgia.
"We are working with our Russian partners and discussing the points in our relations which don't suit Nato , including the war in Georgia. That is a serious point," he said.
"We should not expect immediate results. This is a long-term process," Scheffer added.
Large-scale military operations were launched in South Ossetia at night of 8 August. Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali , capital of South Ossetia. Later Russian troops seized the town and drove Georgian troops back to Georgia. On 26 August, Russia recognized independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and established diplomatic relations on 9 September.
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