MOSCOW, October 26 (RIA Novosti) - NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Thursday that Russia's role in conflict settlement is essential.
Scheffer, who is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said he would like to contribute to the development of Russia-NATO relations.
Putin said bilateral cooperation is successful. "In our estimates, cooperation is developing successfully," the Russian leader said.
Russia has in the past expressed concern over the expansion of NATO bases into the Baltic Region, and has voiced its displeasure over the proposed accession of Georgia and Ukraine to the military alliance.
