The United States supports the discussion of a new European security architecture, the U.S. vice president said on the eve of his major European tour.
Joe Biden left Washington for Europe on Wednesday to discuss security and economic issues with NATO and European leaders and is expected to make a major address to the European parliament in Brussels.
"NATO is revising its "strategic concept," which contains the guiding principles for NATO's strategy to deal with security threats, to prepare the alliance for the challenges of the 21st century. Russia also has come forward with new ideas about European security," Biden said in an article published by The New York Times on Wednesday.
"These issues deserve thoughtful consideration and discussion," he said.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposed drawing up a new pan-European security pact in June 2008 and the issue became even more urgent after Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war over the Georgian breakaway republic of South Ossetia a month later.
Russia pushed ahead with a draft of the treaty on November 29, 2009, sending copies to heads of state and international organizations, including NATO.
World nations have been reluctant to support Russia's initiative, but gradually started to warm up to the proposal.
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has repeatedly said that Russia must be integrated more fully in Euro-Atlantic security.
Biden echoed Rasmussen's statements by saying: "We seek an open and increasingly united Europe in which all countries, including Russia, play their full roles."
BRUSSELS, May 6 (RIA Novosti)
