R.A.F. HALTON, England (Reuters) - The leaders of Britain and Russia pressed on Friday for closer NATO ties with Moscow, saying most members of the alliance had backed the plan.
``The proposal...has achieved I believe broad acceptance. We can now enter in the detailed discussions on the working of the new NATO-Russia council,'' British Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters, with President Vladimir Putin at his side.
Putin and his wife Lyudmila will stay at Blair's country residence, Chequers, while the two leaders hold informal talks. They will leave for home on Saturday afternoon.
``The Russia-NATO discussion will continue,'' Putin told the news conference at RAF Halton, an air base outside London.
Blair began pushing for a step change in ties last month, writing a four-page letter to NATO chief George Robertson and fellow leaders of the 19-member alliance suggesting a new Russian-North Atlantic Council, now dubbed ``NATO at 20.''
The prospect of the Cold War enemies fighting side by side is one envisioned under the forum Blair is personally championing. Earlier areas of cooperation are likely to include counter-terrorism and control of weapons of mass destruction.