MOSCOW, April 5 (AVN) -- Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov and EU Secretary General Javier Solana focused on Russia's participation in peacekeeping operations during their talks that started here on Thursday, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry told the Military News Agency.
Variants of Russia's participation in EU-sponsored peacekeeping operations in trouble spots have been outlined, Ivanov and Solana told reporters. In particular, issues of international security related to EU expansion have been discussed.
Ivanov also expressed Russia's concern over the possibility of the USA's withdrawal from the Antiballistic Missile Treaty (ABM) and offered the scheme of European Antimissile Defence.
The talks are still going on and the parties are expected to talk to media men again later.
Solana, who is responsible for the EU foreign policy, came to Moscow on an official visit to prepare concrete proposals on Russian-EU co-operation in the field of establishing security in Europe and to prepare a Russian-EU summit to be held here on May 7.
Later in the day Solana is expected to meet Foreign Minister Sergei Ivanov and Security Council Secretary Vladimir Rushailo, a spokesman for the Defence Ministry's main foreign relations department told the Agency.
Solana is to leave Moscow on Thursday evening.