ATHENS. Dec 6 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia considers Greece as an old, secure and predictable partner, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov.
"Russian-Greek relations are developing not only in the military and technical area. Our relations in the economic, energy and, of course, military areas are developing positively," the minister told journalists on Wednesday in Athens.
"Greece's membership in NATO does not hinder the development of our cooperation. We experience no problems or complexes over the issue," he said.
"We agreed to establish a new system for the delivery of spare parts for the equipment already in Greece, as well as its maintenance" at talks with the Greek defense minister, he said.
The talks also focused on the further development of bilateral military and technical cooperation and a possibility to license the production of hi-tech goods to be sold to third parties, the Russian minister said.
A plan for military cooperation in 2007 was signed after the negotiations, Ivanov said, adding, "It envisages the deepening of our military ties."
"We have discussed regional security as well. Russia and Greece are on the fringes of Europe, and problems outside the continent have impact on our security," the minister said.