Russia 'to work with Nato on missile defence shield'

Russia has agreed to co-operate on Nato's programme to defend against ballistic missile attacks, Nato's chief has said.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen said at a Nato summit in Lisbon that the two sides had agreed in writing that they no longer posed a threat to one another.

"For the first time the two sides will be co-operating to defend themselves," Mr Rasmussen said.

The Lisbon summit has been redrawing Nato's focus to face new challenges.

'Real importance'

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said of the summit: "A period of very difficult, tense relations has been overcome."

This is the first Nato summit Russia has attended since the Russia-Georgia war two years ago.

Nato members had earlier agreed on a programme to develop and deploy defences against ballistic missile attack on their territories.

Mr Rasmussen said he had extended an offer to Russia to co-operate on the programme and was "very pleased that [Russian President Dmitry] Medvedev has taken up that offer".

Mr Rasmussen said this agreement was of "real political importance" and a "true turning point".

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