Russia ready to develop military-technological co-operation with NATO

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov is going to raise the issue of Russia-NATO military-technical co-operation during the session of the Russia-NATO Council at the defence ministers' level. The minister told Russian journalists about this before the session's beginning.

"It seems to me very convenient that I have an opportunity to speak twice at the Council's sessions," the minister said. "At the outset, I can express my own opinion, listen to the others and then speak for the second time to react to what has been said." Ivanov said he would focus on Russia-NATO military-technical co-operation opportunities in his first speech. "Unfortunately, we have had a lot of declarations in this sphere, but nothing is being done," the minister said. "I am speaking in particular about joint designing of weapons in the future." "Of course, such co-operation is not feasible with most NATO member-states, but we could develop military-technical co-operation with some European countries with advanced military industry," the minister said.

When asked by journalists to name these countries, Ivanov said he did not "want to offend anyone", but nevertheless mentioned that great co-operation potential with France, Germany and Italy existed.