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NATO foreign ministers agreed to resume high-level talks with Russia, despite remaining differences. Also on Thursday, the United States proposed a special international meeting on Afghanistan, possibly the end of March. The ministers met throughout the day at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

It was a whirl of closed-door meetings at NATO headquarters that sometimes included intense debate, especially about relations with Russia.

The issue was whether to resume formal, high-level contacts with Russia after a seven-month suspension.

Some East European NATO members fear that resuming contacts might signal a weakening of Western resolve to stand up to Moscow.
　
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop² Scheffer

But in the end, NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the issue was resolved.

"Ministers reached agreement to formally resume the NATO-Russia Council," he said.

He predicted a ministerial level meeting soon after NATO's 60th anniversary summit in early April.

The reason for the decision seemed clear.

"Russia is an important player," he said. "Russia is a global player. And that means that not talking to them is not an option."

NATO suspended high level talks of the NATO-Russia Council in protest over Russia's military action in Georgia last August and its subsequent recognition of two breakaway Georgian enclaves.

Those differences and others still remain, said Scheffer.

"Were we disagree and we go on disagreeing is Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, its intention to build bases there - part of Georgian territory - let's not forget that," he said.
　
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at a news conference at NATO meeting in Brussels, 05 Mar¹ 2009

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on her first visit to NATO as America's top diplomat³, said she understands some members' concerns about dealing⁴ with Russia. But Clinton stressed there was also much common ground.

"We have areas where we believe we not only can, but must, cooperate with Russia - non-proliferation, arms control, anti-terrorism, anti-piracy efforts," she said.

Secretary Clinton is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday.

NATO members also welcomed Russia's offer to help with opening up new supply lines into Afghanistan - another area that figured prominently in Thursday's discussions.

Clinton announced that the United States wants to see, what she called, a "big tent" international conference on Afghanistan to include NATO members, donors⁵ and neighboring countries, including Iran.

"We have presented this idea, which is being discussed - nothing has been decided⁶ - as a way of bringing all the stake-holders and interested parties together," she said. "If we move forward with such a meeting, it is expected that Iran would be invited as a neighbor of Afghanistan"

Clinton said the United States believes that a greater regional effort is crucial and she said that includes dealing strategically with Afghanistan and Pakistan together.

"It is clear that the border areas between the two countries are the real locus⁷ of a lot for the extremist activity," she said. "It's becoming obvious that Pakistan faces very serious internal threats and that Afghanistan faces continuing external threats that emanate⁸ out of Pakistan."

The United States has pledged another 17,000 troops for Afghanistan, and other NATO members are being asked for further contributions.

However, the U.S. and NATO are stressing that it is not only the military effort that is needed in Afghanistan, but also development and civilian⁹ help.

 

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 hoop   

n.（篮球）篮圈，篮

参考例句：

• The child was rolling a hoop.那个孩子在滚铁环。
• The wooden tub is fitted with the iron hoop.木盆都用铁箍箍紧。

3 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

5 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

7 locus   

n.中心

参考例句：

• Barcelona is the locus of Spanish industry.巴塞罗那是西班牙工业中心。
• Thereafter,the military remained the locus of real power.自此之后，军方一直掌握着实权。

8 emanate   

v.发自，来自，出自

参考例句：

• Waves emanate from the same atom source.波是由同一原子辐射的。
• These chemicals can emanate certain poisonous gases.这些化学药品会散发出某些有毒的气味。

9 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。