Reply #3: NATO allies agree to restore ties to Russia

[jordi_fanclub]

Source: AP via Newsweek (since Yahoo!News keeps changing/deleting the articles)

(BRUSSELS, Belgium) NATO foreign ministers have agreed that the alliance will restore normal relations with Russia, seven months after ties were broken in response to Moscow's invasion of the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

After a prolonged debate, the ministers agreed to revive what NATO calls the NATO-Russia Council, a forum for discussion of a wide range of issues. Lithuania had argued that a decision on this should be put off until NATO heads of government meet in early April.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton argued against putting off the decision.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced at a news conference at NATO headquarters that the matter was resolved, as originally expected. He did not say when the NATO-Russia Council would resume meeting, but said it would not be before the April NATO summit.

Read more: Newsweek