Russia offers NATO 5-year cooperation deal

BRUSSELS, May 4 (RIA Novosti)

Russia has offered NATO a mid-term military cooperation plan for a period of three to five years, chief of the General Staff Nikolai Makarov said on Wednesday. "This approach will help define exactly what we want to achieve as a result of our cooperation," he told reporters in Brussels. "This will enable us to look beyond the horizon," Gen. Makarov said, adding that "corresponding instructions have already been issued to military representatives of the NATO-Russia Council." Russian-NATO cooperation needs to be geared more toward practical results, he said. Makarov cited an upcoming large-scale submarine exercise off the Spanish coast near Cartagena as a successful example of Russia-NATO cooperation. The 12-day exercise, code-named Exercise Bold Monarch 11, will be held in June. It is held every three years and is the world's largest submarine rescue exercise, involving submarines, ships and aircraft from both NATO and non-NATO countries, including Russia. This will be the first time a Russian submarine has participated in any NATO exercise. Some 2,000 military and nonmilitary personnel from over 20 countries will participate in the exercise that is designed to maximize international cooperation in submarine rescue operations.