Scheffer: Differences Remain with Russia over Georgia

NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said on March 5, that while not shying away from differences with Russia, in particular about Georgia, the Alliance also acknowledged common interests it had with Russia.

“Last December, you agreed to a phased and measured political re-engagement with Russia following the crisis over Georgia last August,” Scheffer said in his opening remarks at the NATO foreign ministerial summit in Brussels. “We now have to discuss possible next steps, including the resumption of formal meetings of the NRC [NATO-Russia Council]. We need to reflect on a positive agenda that befits the importance of NATO and Russia to European and indeed global security.”

“While not shying away from the serious differences of opinion that remain between NATO and Russia, in particular about Georgia, we also acknowledge that we have obvious common interests with Russia,” he added.

Grigol Vashadze, the Georgia’s foreign minister, said on March 4 that he would travel to Brussels on March 5 to participate in “extraordinary” session of the NATO-Georgia Commission that would take place on the sideline of the NATO foreign ministerial summit.

James Appathurai, NATO spokesman, said on March 4 that he would not exclude that the meeting will be held on March 5.

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