US considers Russian security proposal

The US said it was studying a Russian proposal to overhaul security agreements in the region -- changes billed by Moscow as a vital post-Cold War reform -- but that it should not affect NATO.

The two-day meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe opened Tuesday amid efforts to reach OSCE's first broad agreement on security since 2002.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov promoted a set of security reform proposals sent to western leaders over the weekend by President Dmitry Medvedev.

"There is a need to undertake decisive steps to overcome remaining dividing lines in the Euro-Atlantic region," Lavrov said. "(It) seemed so achievable right after the fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago. We can only blame remaining prejudices and inertia for the fact that it has not been achieved."

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton did not attend the talks in Greece, nor did the foreign ministers of Britain and Canada.

James Steinberg, a deputy US secretary of state who did, gave a measured response to Medvedev's letter and said Washington was studying the document.

"Like other leaders, President (Barack) Obama received President Medvedev's letter containing a draft European security treaty on Saturday," said Steinberg. "We are studying this proposal carefully and we welcome the opportunity to continue dialogue that has been taking place within the OSCE."

However, Steinberg said reforms should not affect the role of NATO -- a common concern expressed by some alliance members when discussing security changes.

OSCE countries have a wide range of security problems to contend with, including the situation in Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea and Iran, and the aftermath of Russia's war with Georgia last year.

"Security in our region remains a work in progress. The global crisis has affected all our countries," said Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, whose country holds the annual rotating chairmanship of OSCE.

However, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas said reaching a new security deal was "not very easy."

Several foreign ministers planned to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the conference.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was due to meet with Lavrov, his Russian counterpart in talks that are likely to include discussions of Iran's nuclear program. Israel wants Moscow to back more international sanctions against Tehran unless Iran adheres to restrictions set by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Lieberman is to visit Moscow on Wednesday for an economic and trade meeting with Russia, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

After Greece, Kazakhstan will take over the OSCE's presidency in January, despite the country's alleged human rights violations. New York-based Human Rights Watch said last week Kazakhstan has recently dealt numerous blows to media freedoms and the rule of law, and should be pressured to improve its record before taking over the presidency, Kazinform cites Today's Zaman.

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