MOSCOW. Jan 27 (Interfax-AVN) - French military officials assess the potential of equal partnership within the framework of the Russia-NATO Council very highly and will assist Russia in improving its relations with NATO, Colonel General Viktor Zavarzin, chairman of the State Duma's Defense Committee, told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"The concept of joint operations is planned to become the cornerstone contribution of France into further improvement of Russia-NATO relations," said Zavarzin, who is expected to meet Army General Henri Bentegeat, Chief of the French General Staff later in the day.
"At the same time it means shifting from the formal involvement of Russia in NATO operations towards the real joint work at all stages: preparation, planning, concept adoption, establishing the chain of command, and realizing the operation. According to the French, the Balkans are the most likely region for such cooperation," he said.
Thus, Zavarzin believes that it is fundamental shift in France's relations and involvement in NATO.
"Welcoming equal partnership within the framework of the Russia-NATO Council, France emphasizes that practical work of the Council will depend on senior political official of the parties concerned," Zavarzin underlined.
"Paris thinks that the new relations within the "20" format will boost NATO transformation. Russia's active involvement and its interests will open new vistas, allowing NATO to get its second wind," he said.
France believes that the major approach of establishing new relations with Russia consists in the cooperation between Russia and EU.
According to Zavarzin, France stands for a more specific political dialog between Russia and EU, strengthening cooperation with Russia in the field of security (combating terrorism, drug dealers, and human slave traffickers), including establishment of the Russia-EU Internal Security Council.
"For instance, France says that the EU-Russia Internal Security Council would be able to discuss certain issues without the Americans, which fail to be settled in NATO," he stressed.
France is interested in cooperating with Russia with respect to pursuing European regional and security and defense policy, he emphasized. "Paris stands for fulfilling certain cooperation projects, for instance in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and FYROM as the fist step, as well as military technical cooperation," Zavarzin said.