The United States today raised doubts about a fast return to normal ties between Nato and Russia after the Georgian war despite an EU move to restart partnership talks with Moscow.
The 26-nation military alliance scaled back its co-operation with Russia after the August conflict over Georgia's rebel South Ossetia, declaring that "business as usual" was impossible after a Russian incursion condemned by the West as disproportionate.
Despite differences on the extent to which Russia has complied with a ceasefire accord in Georgia, European nations - most of them Nato members - have agreed to relaunch talks on an EU-Russia political and economic pact on December 2nd.
"We understand there is a lot of interest in Nato in resuming dialogue and contacts with Russia and that is important and we support that," US Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried told a briefing in Brussels.
"It is difficult for us to go back to business as usual since the Russian military did actually attack another country," he said. "It's hard when you also have Russian troops in another country against its will."
Mr Fried acknowledged "modest progress" at talks between Russian and Georgian officials in Geneva this week but said Moscow had not fully complied with the ceasefire. He also raised concerns that European and other observers were not getting proper access to South Ossetia.
He said he hoped the European Union would raise issues on Russia's energy policy and concerns over democracy in its talks.
"We hope that the EU effectively addresses some of our larger concerns about Russia, about its use of energy to push around some of its neighbours," he said.
Nato foreign ministers meet in Brussels in two weeks to review the decision to suspend high-level meetings of the Nato-Russia Council, the main forum for their ties.
Reuters