Clinton reassures Europe allies ahead of Russia talks

Thethaw in relations that the Obama administration seeks with Moscow does not undermine support for European allies, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday,hours before meeting with her Russian counterpart.

Clinton, approaching theend of her inaugural trip to Europe as the top U.S. diplomat, told interns and staff members at the European Parliament in Brussels that Russia should have no veto over NATO expansion and no sphere of influence.

Her comments come a day after shetold NATO foreign ministers in Brussels that the bloc needs to explore a "fresh start" in relations with Russia, which had cooled considerably during the George W. Bush years.

Clintonwas due to fly toGeneva on Fridayto meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss arms control and counter-terrorism, among other things. Clinton said Friday her goal in Geneva is to find areas of common cause with Russia, while laying the groundwork to resolve areas of difference.

Russia could help the international community persuade Iran that it should not develop nuclear weapons, she said.

But she maintained that the United States would stand firm in some areas, notably its support for Georgia and other Baltic states.

"Our engagement with Russia in no way undermines our support for countries like Georgia or the Baltics or the Balkans to be independent, free, make their own decisions or shape their own course without undue interference from Russia," she said.

NATO resumes ties with Russia

On Thursday, NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels agreed to resume normal relations with Russia, seven months after severing ties over its invasion of Georgia.

The conflict broke out on Aug. 7 after Georgia's attempt to retake the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Russia then dispatched its own troops to the province, routing Georgian forces and then proceeding deep into Georgian territory.

Russia's prolonged offensive in Georgia and its stay in the Abkhazia, another breakaway region, drew strong criticism from the international community, particularly from the United States and NATO.

Clintonsaid atThursday'ssummit that NATO must leave the door open to membership for former Soviet states Ukraine and Georgia a move strongly opposed by Moscow. She also said that NATO should "never" recognize the breakaway Georgian provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.