NATO: military ties with Russia improving steadily
(AP) – 14 hours ago

BRUSSELS — NATO's top officer says military-to-military relations between Russia and the alliance are "definitely improving."

Italian Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola, who heads the alliance's military committee, says cooperation with Moscow is expected to deepen further in 2011 because of shared concerns over Afghanistan, and the threats posed by terrorism and maritime piracy.

Di Paola returned on Saturday from a visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian defense chief Gen. Nikolai Makarov.

He said the Russian side had responded to NATO's request to supply transport and helicopter gunships to the nascent Afghan air force by submitting a proposal which is now being studied by the allies. He did not elaborate on the contents of the proposal.

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