Russia wants "fully fledged" and mutually profitable ties with NATO, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday, quoted by Interfax.
"We should convey the message that Russia is interested in having fully fledged, equal and mutually profitable relations with the North Atlantic alliance — in relations that are not aimed at any third country," Medvedev said in a meeting with Russia's ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin.
Medvedev said his administration is ready to discuss a wide variety of topics since "problems have not diminished," Interfax reported.
Political threats, international conflicts, security, organized crime and drug trafficking are "all problems on which we can cooperate and collaborate further," Medvedev said.
Russia has adopted a new, more conciliatory tone on relations with NATO in the wake of former US president George W. Bush's departure from office and the arrival of the new administration of President Barack Obama.
Russia has long been suspicious of NATO, regarding it as instrument of Western and in particular US expansionism close to Russian borders.
The two sides are now preparing however to cooperate on a series of issues, including providing transit routes for supplies going to forces in Afghanistan.
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