Russia is ready to cooperate with the United States on a new European security treaty, Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Monday.
"Consolidation of European security serves the interests of both countries," he said. "We are ready to cooperate with our American colleagues on the practical work of a new European security treaty."
Ivanov said the current state of European security "leaves much to be desired."
Russia published a draft European security treaty on November 29, 2009, but U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said such a treaty is unnecessary.
Her position was echoed by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen who has stated repeatedly that the West is no threat to Russia and that extra security guarantees are uncalled for.
He said NATO was ready to discuss Medvedev's security ideas, but there was no need for a new security treaty.
The NATO chief said there are already enough documents ensuring Euro-Atlantic security, and that conflicts only take place because some countries do not comply with the principles enshrined in these documents.
WASHINGTON, May 17 (RIA Novosti)
