MOSCOW. March 25 (Interfax-AVN) - Moscow has a reserved attitude to the outcome of negotiations on a new mechanism of Russia-NATO cooperation in the 20 format, which took place in Brussels late last week.
Delegations to the negotiations in Brussels "continued to work on the rapprochement of the positions they had defined in draft documents," Moscow sources told Interfax on Monday.
Two drafts of the future document on "NATO at 20", made by Russia and the Alliance, were discussed at the negotiations, the sources said.
They did not give details of the Brussels meeting, but noted "difficult work on a common document" about the new mechanism of Russia-NATO cooperation "is being done."
Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgeny Gusarov, who supervises relations with NATO, led the Russian delegation to the talks.
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said on the eve of the Brussels meeting that he "is optimistic about the ability of Russia and NATO to agree on the 20 format" despite difficulties in the negotiations.
Russia would like the document to be ready by a ministerial session of the Russia-NATO Permanent Joint Council, which is scheduled for mid-May in Reykjavik, Ivanov said.
Principles of decision-making and possible topics of "NATO at 20" are being discussed at the negotiations, Ivanov said. "It should be the mechanism for Russia and NATO member countries to be equal partners in drafting, making and implementing decisions," he noted. Ivanov cited as an example the activities of the Contact Group on the Balkans.
Possible topics are the fight against international terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking, and cooperation in emergencies and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the minister said.