Brussels - NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Friday he has been invited to Moscow by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "Russian FM (foreign minister) Lavrov today extended an invitation to me to visit Moscow this year. I strongly believe in closer NATO- Russia ties," the NATO chief wrote on his twitter while attending the UN General Assembly in New York.
NATO officials in Brussels confirmed Friday that the twitter account was genuine, saying a trip to Moscow was certainly "on the cards."
According to Russian news agency Itar-Tass, the visit would take place by the end of the year, though no concrete date has yet been agreed.
Rasmussen and Lavrov held what were described as "very constructive" talks in New York.
Lavrov's invitation came a week after the NATO chief called on the alliance and Russia to begin closer cooperation on issues such as piracy, counterterrorism and Afghanistan as a way of building trust following the August 2008 war in Georgia.
Rasmussen's conciliatory speech was well-received by Russian officials.
The last time a NATO secretary general visited Russia was in June 2007.
