The Russia-NATO Council may meet on a ministerial level in the middle of June, the first such gathering since Russia's August 2008 war with Georgia, Moscow's ambassador to the military alliance said on Monday.
"The preliminary date is June 10 or 11, although it is purely preliminary, because we cannot talk about any substantial agenda for this meeting yet," Dmitry Rogozin said. "If this meeting is really of interest to both parties, it has a chance of taking place."
Relations between Moscow and the Western bloc went sour during the conflict in South Ossetia and the ministerial meeting would be another step in normalizing ties.
Russia sent troops into South Ossetia to repel Georgia's attempt to retake the breakaway republic by force. After five days of fighting the Russian troops ousted Georgian forces from the region, which has since been recognized as independent by Moscow.
NATO accused Russia of disproportionate use of military force and froze cooperation with Moscow. In response Russia froze several of joint programs with NATO.
NATO foreign ministers decided to restore full-scale cooperation with Russia at a meeting in Brussels in March 2009.
BRUSSELS, May 17 (RIA Novosti)
