NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says alliance efforts toseek re-engagement with Russia will continue despite disagreements withMoscow over Georgia.
Speaking after an alliance defenseministers' meeting in Poland, de Hoop Scheffer said he expects NATOforeign ministers to act on the issue early next month. NATO suspendedformal dialogue with Russia after Moscow sent troops into Georgia inAugust.
He said the allies reiterated firm support for Georgia'sterritorial integrity and expressed concern over Russian plans forbases in Georgia's breakaway regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Meanwhile,U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates again said the Obama administrationreview of policies in Afghanistan and Iran is delaying a decision onplans for a missile defense system in central Europe. He said thesystem is primarily aimed at defense against an Iranian threat andwould be unnecessary if Iran halted its nuclear program.
Gatessaid Iran's recent launch of a satellite is evidence that the IslamicRepublic is making progress in developing ballistic missiles.
Moscow strongly opposes the missile system, contending that it will undermine Russia's security.