(All quotes are transcribed from the original English)
BRUSSELS. Dec 17 (Interfax) - NATO considers Russia's military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia a serious obstacle to reaching agreements with Moscow on limiting conventional armed forces in Europe.
"I consider the CFE Treaty [the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe] a very important framework for conventional arms control. And I think we need a framework for conventional arms control," NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in an interview with Interfax, which will also be published in the Monday issue of Novaya Gazeta.
"But, as you know, it is an integrated part of the conventional arms control scheme that - or put it another way - the so-called host nation's consent is an integral part of our conventional arms control scheme. And clearly there is no host nation's consent to Russia's military presence in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Because those areas are, according to international law, parts of Georgia, and Georgia has not given its consent. Obviously, it's a major obstacle. Again, this is one of the issues on which we deeply disagree with Russia," Rasmussen said when asked whether NATO was willing to resume negotiations on conventional armed forces in Europe with Russia.
Russian Permanent Envoy to NATO Alexander Grushko said earlier that Russia was willing to resume negotiations on conventional armed forces in Europe with NATO without tying the issue to political issues.
"The most important thing is to launch such consultations, if not negotiations, without attempts to tie them to political problems," Grushko said in an interview with Interfax.
Negotiations aimed at limiting conventional weapons in Europe could be resumed if they focus on this issue alone, he said.
"The ball is now in our partners' court," he added.
Russia suspended its compliance with the CFE Treaty in 2007 following several attempts to adapt it to match the new realities. Moscow said later that it saw no reason to return to the treaty, accusing NATO of both building up its military potential and setting unacceptable terms, including Russia's retraction of its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.