The minister indicated that all Russian initiatives in this sphere are in general welcomed by the European Union. "Still, they have failed so far to get any practical effect," said Ivanov. He pressed the point that it was high time to transform declarations into deeds.
The EU-Russia anti-terrorism drive was also on the agenda. The minister pointed to the continued work over the Russia-NATO Council's draft summing up common viewpoints on resistance to terrorism and determining further guidelines.
Ivanov noted that Russia's many initiatives pertaining to anti-terrorism cooperation with the EU are being neglected.
Ivanov suggested probing into military objectives' vulnerability and staging a seminar to work out pertinent remedies, working out a Concept on counter-terrorism and setting up a single NATO-Russia Centre on revealing and preventing acts of terrorism.
"I nevertheless believe that Russia and the EU have very broad prospects for cooperation in the spheres of security and defence," said Ivanov.
