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NATO, Russia Sign Agreement To Foster Military Cooperation
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=D03DDF:2AB91D3

'Status of forces' agreement meant to make it easier for NATO, Russia
to organize joint exercise, training





Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during media conference
after NATO foreign ministers meeting in VilniusNATO and Russia have
signed a landmark military cooperation deal.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov signed the agreement with his
NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
at a NATO ministerial meeting in the Lithuanian capital Thursday.

The "status of forces" agreement is meant to make it easier for NATO
and Russia to organize joint exercises and training and to ease the
transport of forces through each other's territories.

For example, NATO says it could be used to ease supply lines to
peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer calls the signing a
"milestone in NATO-Russia cooperation."

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.


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