NATO must reach out to Russia, Merkel says

By Madeline Chambers

BERLIN (Reuters) - NATO needs to reach out to Russia and make clear the defence alliance and Moscow will be most effective at fighting the world's security problems if they work together, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday.

Merkel said she welcomed the prospect of Georgia and Ukraine becoming members of NATO but warned that neither country would be ready to join "in the foreseeable future".

She has at times been a leading critic of Russia, especially on issues like human rights. But on Monday she focused more on the importance of Russia.

"I think it is better to talk with each other than about each other," Merkel said in a speech at a meeting of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) in the German capital.

"I know it is not always easy but I think it would be wise to send out a signal to Russia," she said, adding next April's NATO summit in Strasbourg offered an opportunity to do so.

Earlier, the European Union agreed to relaunch its stalled talks with Russia on a wide-ranging partnership pact.

The 27-nation bloc had frozen negotiations after Russia's August incursion into Georgia in a brief but violent conflict over the breakaway South Ossetia region.

"We need each other. We are partners," said Merkel, saying together Russia and NATO were a stronger force against terrorism, proliferation and other security challenges.