MOSCOW. Nov 16 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia sees Spain as an important and equal partner in the framework of both bilateral relations and NATO and EU format, Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Tuesday.
"We must develop the good things that were achieved in our bilateral relations, Ivanov told his Spanish counterpart Jose Bono at a meeting in Moscow.
He stressed that the Russian and Spanish defense ministers are meeting for the second time this year. "This fact speaks for itself," Ivanov said.
He suggested that Bono and he should discuss military and military-technical cooperation, as well as regional security issues.
Bono said that "Russia and Spain realize that security threats have become global nowadays." "There are global threats, such as terrorist fanaticism, that are threats for all countries of the world," he said.
"Democratic countries must protect themselves from these threats, and this is true for Russia and Spain that know by experience that terrorism may cause numerous casualties," Bono stressed.
"In this matter, rhetoric is not important for Russia and Spain, what matters is establishment of closer ties, regardless of our countries' geographic position and our ideological view of the world," he said.
Speaking about relations between Russia and Spain, Ivanov said their level is vividly displayed by the Spanish government's decision to return to Russia the cross of the St. Sofia Cathedral in Nizhny Novgorod, which was taken out of the country during World War II by Spanish soldiers fighting for Germany.
"I would like to express our gratitude once again to the Spanish government and to the defense minister personally for making this decision. I am sure that this gesture will be duly evaluated by the Russian party," Ivanov said.
"By our presence in Moscow and by the transfer of the cross, we want to prove our gratitude, solidarity and love for the Russian people," Bono said.
The Spanish defense minister arrived in Moscow for an official visit late on Monday.