Medvedev says Russia-NATO cooperation necessary

MOSCOW, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday Russia and NATO should cooperate more closely due to a rise in common threats, news agencies reported.

"Our relations are entering a new level," Medvedev said at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Moscow.

"We have many reasons for interaction, many subjects for discussion," including joint actions to counter terrorism, crime and other common threats, Medvedev said.

"Much depends on relations between Russia and NATO," he said.

Medvedev expressed the hope that Rasmussen's visit would help make Russia-NATO ties "stronger and more productive."

Rasmussen told Medvedev that Russia's cooperation on NATO's operation in Afghanistan was beneficial to both sides.

"I do believe that it's essential for Russia that we succeed in Afghanistan," the Danish NATO chief said during the Kremlin meeting.

Earlier in the day, Rasmussen also held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Admitting differences between the military alliance and Russia, Rasmussen said they should not overshadow common interests in many fields.

Lavrov said Russia "was interested in the normalization of relations" with its former Cold War foe.

Russia-NATO relations, strained in the wake of the brief war between Russia and Georgia in August last year, have improved in recent months.

Rasmussen was expected to raise the issue of Afghanistan and Russia's potential transportation assistance to NATO's mission there on his first visit to Moscow since taking office in August.

Russia has allowed the transit of non-lethal supplies for NATO and U.S. troops in Afghanistan through its territory under an April 2008 deal signed in Bucharest.