NATO: Moscow can do 'better' in Afghan war

MOSCOW, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin welcomed the NATO secretary-general to Moscow to discuss common interests but balked on aid to Afghanistan.

Putin met with Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the NATO secretary-general, in Moscow to discuss ways to pursue joint efforts to tackle common threats.

"Indeed, if Russia and the North Atlantic Alliance pool their efforts in areas of common interest, we can achieve good results," said Putin.

The Russian premier singled out international terrorism, the control of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and narcotics trafficking as area of concerns.

Rasmussen, for his part, defined Afghanistan as a "key element" of cooperation between the Kremlin and NATO allies.

"We have already developed extensive cooperation on this issue but I'm convinced that we can do even better," he said.

The Danish politician had expressed hope Moscow would come forward with offers of military equipment for the NATO mission in Afghanistan. He told the BBC, however, that while Moscow recognized the urgency, it was still wary of its Cold War foe.

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, recognized the concern, telling the BBC that both sides were working to "normalize relations and bring them to a new level."