Lavrov, Kerry to talk Syria at Russia-NATO Council

"I feel more understanding of the urgency to switch from words and appeals to do something to real actions. I hope that we will soon see additional movements from those who doubted this previously," Lavrov said at a news conference on the results of talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels.

In particular, "the understanding that if the stake on the war until the final victory supported by the minority of the international community will continue, then radicals will prevail," Lavrov said.

"The Syrian opposition currently has no united commandership, just separated groups. Militants of the cell the US put on list of terrorist organizations - these are the allies of those who put stakes on the war until the final victory - fight side by side with the so-called Free Syrian Army and groups, which obey to the so-called higher military council," the Russian foreign minister said.

"Our partners have a growing feeling that all this will end very badly, so we are currently searching for practical agreements, which will initiate the implementation the Geneva Communique," Lavrov said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is holding talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry on the sidelines of the Russia-NATO Council's ministerial meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. 

It is the Russian and US top foreign policy officials' third meeting this year.

They last met in London two weeks ago. Kerry said he was glad to see Lavrov again.

The talks are expected to center on Russian-American cooperation and on international issues, including the situation in Syria.

Boston tragedy shows international terrorism undefeated - Lavrov

The Boston tragedy has revealed that it’s premature to celebrate a victory over international terrorism, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said after a ministerial session of the Russia-NATO Council on Tuesday.

Russia, NATO should maintain military-technological cooperation without politicizing it - Lavrov

Russia should maintain military-technological cooperation with NATO countries without politicizing it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. 

"I think there are good opportunities for military-technological cooperation. We called today for actively seizing these opportunities without politicization and without trying to resort to unfair competition," Lavrov said following a Russia-NATO Council meeting in Brussels.

Russia insists on guarantees that US missile defense will not be targeted against it - Lavrov

Russia and the United States could cooperate in missile defense on condition that guarantees are provided that the European missile shield is not targeted against Russia, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Voice of Russia correspondent Olga Denisova reports. 

"Our position is well known. We are prepared to conduct a dialogue, but cooperation can only be equitable with clear and unequivocal guarantees provided that the process is not targeted against countries in the Euroatlantic region, since the threats cited as the reason for creating the missile shield are outside the Euroatlantic space.

If this is the case we want to be given corresponding guarantee," Lavrov said after a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council in Brussels on Tuesday.

Moscow is studying proposals for continuing the dialogue on missile defense received from the American side, he said.

"Of course, the proposals on cooperation that we have received will be further studied with due account taken of the United States' plans and Russia's interests," Lavrov said.

NATO, Russia to test bomb detection technology – Rasmussen

For the first time, Russia and NATO will test a joint system for detecting explosives in crowded areas, in particular, in the metro, NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Tuesday, Voice of Russia correspondent Olga Denisova reports.

NATO and Russia will hold tests of jointly developed technology for detecting explosives in crowded areas in June, Rasmussen said at a news conference after a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council.

The testing will be held at a metro station in a European capital, Rasmussen said. Rasmussen said that joint exercises with the use of systems to control air transport security would be held in September.

The systems are destined to protect civilian aircraft from terrorist threats, NATO General Secretary said.

NATO-Russia meeting in Brussels brings no solid progress on missile shield - Rasmussen

Russia and NATO did not achieve solid progress on the missile shield issue during a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at a news conference, Voice of Russia correspondent Olga Denisova reports.

The missile shield issue is an area where NATO and Russia have active dialogue, but limited progress, Rasmussen said on the results of the meeting.

It is important that NATO and Russia continue working on the issue, Rasmussen said.

NATO and Russia have opportunities to give new dynamics to the dialogue and the two will use them, the NATO general secretary said.

Afghanistan remains a priority in Russia-NATO partnership - Rasmussen

A stable Afghanistan is a priority goal in the partnership between Russia and NATO, said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Voice of Russia correspondent Olga Denisova reports.

NATO adheres to the cause of stability and security in Afghanistan, which remains a priority aspect in the partnership between NATO and Russia, Rasmussen told the Russia-NATO Council in Brussels on Tuesday.

Russia and NATO worked together in training personnel for combating drug exports from Afghanistan and for servicing helicopters, and supplied much needed spare parts to the Afghan Air Force, he said.

Russia and NATO will discuss opportunities on Tuesday for broadening partnership, guided by the progress made, he said.

Russia-NATO Council to secure helicopter package for Afghanistan

The Russia-NATO Council may opt for implementing the second stage of the helicopter package for Afghanistan following its current session in Brussels which is being held with the participation of Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

According to Sergei Yermakov of the Russian Strategic Research Institute, even though the situation in Afghanistan remains tense, NATO has successfully addressed the military issues.

The main challenges are coming from political and economic areas and the drug problem which poses a major threat to Russia, Yermakov said.

Foreign Minister Lavrov to Brussels for Russia-NATO council

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is headed to Brussels, where on April 23rd he is to attend a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council.

According to official foreign ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich, at the ministerial meeting pressing international issues and the problematic relations between Russia and the Alliance will be addressed.

The sides will discuss the prospects of further cooperation in responding to common risks and security threats including: terrorism, drug trafficking, piracy and natural and man-made disasters, said the diplomat.

He added that the Ministers will also exchange their assessments of the situation in Afghanistan.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen for his part has reiterated that the alliance expects to start the meeting by discussing the matter of Russia’s second phase of Russia’s "helicopter package" for Afghanistan.

"This will allow the Afghan army to increase the capacity of the Afghan Air Force, in particular, to ensure the evacuation of the wounded," said the secretary general.

"The helicopter package" involves, in particular, the provision of funds for Russian and NATO helicopters for the Afghan security forces.

The NATO-Russia Council will hold an "open and honest dialogue” on topics such as North Korea and Syria with the participation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Rasmussen, adding that Russia and NATO’s positions are similar in many aspects.

In regard to the missile defense issue, breakthroughs at the meeting should not be expected.

"I do not expect a breakthrough on this matter but all options will be fully considered”, said Rasmussen.