Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that cooperation was essential to guarantee security in Europe, amid continuing tensions over US plans to deploy an anti-missile system in eastern Europe.
"Intensified cooperation would be for a more secure Europe," Lavrov said following a meeting here with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates.
"Thanks to such cooperation, we will feel more secure. It would allow us to concentrate on constructive aspects and not remain prisoner to the useless polemics which divide us," he added.
Moscow has reacted with fury to US plans to expand a missile defence system into eastern Europe, and has announced plans to deploy medium-range Iskander missiles in its western Kaliningrad region that could strike targets across northern and eastern Europe.
Last week French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed holding a summit next year on Europe's future security.
Russia last year walked out of a Cold War treaty setting limits on troops and weapons across the continent last year.
