MOSCOW. May 27 (Interfax-AVN) - The Rome summit will define a new quality of relations between Russia and NATO, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said at a Monday meeting with Chairman of the Alliance's Military Committee Guido Venturoni in Moscow.
"The documents to be signed in Rome tomorrow will promote a new quality of relations between Russia and NATO," he said.
"I put the emphasis on the word "quality," because the level of our relations will entrust us with the equal responsibility for making decisions and implementing them," the minister said. "That requires close cooperation between the defense ministries and the general staffs." at 20]," Ivanov said. "These are the fight against religious extremism, separatism and terrorism, and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, missiles and missile technologies. It is high time for us to concentrate on ways of this cooperation, and the NATO liaison mission that was opened in Moscow on Monday will contribute to that."
"There will be work for servicemen, which is proven by the anti- terrorist campaign in Afghanistan. At least we are not starting our cooperation from a blank sheet," he remarked.
Chief-of-Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Anatoly Kvashnin is taking part in the Ivanov-Venturoni meeting.
Venturoni is in Moscow to attend the opening of the NATO liaison mission.