NATO secretary-general, Russian FM Lavrov discuss cooperation

NATO and Russia must strengthen their cooperation counter-measures against drugs, piracy and terrorism, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. Rasmussen met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Tuesday in Brussels to discuss a range of topics related to the NATO-Russia Council cooperation agenda and international issues of common concern, NATO said in a release. Rasmussen underscored the importance of expanding NRC cooperation in areas such as counter-narcotics, counter-piracy and counter-terrorism. He also stressed the importance of maintaining high-level dialogue on topics where no agreement has been reached yet, such as missile defense and arms control, NATO said. Russia is against the missile shield, saying it is a threat to its national security, while U.S. officials said the shield is to defend its allies from possible missile threats from Iran and North Korea. Lavrov was updated on the situation in Afghanistan and NATO's plans for a new mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan forces beginning in 2015. The secretary-general and Minister Lavrov agreed to explore the possibility of supporting the joint effort by the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons mission on destroying Syria's chemical weapons arsenal within the framework of the NRC. Lavrov also will attend the Russia-European Union summit while in Brussels.