Russia and NATO military chiefs are ready to combine their efforts in combating international challenges to global security, the Russian Armed Forces Chief of General Staff said, RIA Novosti reported.
On Thursday a NATO delegation, led by the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola, arrived in Moscow to review Russia-NATO relations and discuss, among other topics, anti-piracy issues, Russia's assistance to the NATO contingent in Afghanistan and further bilateral strategy.
"We have made a good start: around half of the planned projects have already been implemented," Gen. Nikolai Makarov said.
NATO froze ties with Russia following the August 2008 armed conflict with Georgia and the recognition by Moscow of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
However, Russia-NATO relations have improved over the past year as a result of the reset in relations between Moscow and Washington.
In late January, the Russian and NATO chiefs of staff met in Brussels for the first time since relations improved. As a result of the talks, a framework military cooperation treaty was approved, which is seen as an important step toward the restoration of military ties between Russia and the alliance.
Russia has allowed land transits of non-lethal NATO supplies to Afghanistan and promised more assistance to the bloc's operations in the war-torn country by expanding transits, supplying helicopters and training Afghan security forces.
Russia has also been actively participating in international efforts to fight piracy along the Somali coast since October 2008.