Russian and NATO Chiefs of Staffs will meet...

"Head of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, First Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Makarov will participate," Dmitry Rogozin said.

NATO froze ties with Russia following the brief armed conflict with Georgia and the recognition by Moscow of Georgia"s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but relations have improved in recent months.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed hope in December that the alliance and Russia would establish a joint missile defense system by 2020.

Addressing students at the Moscow State University of International Relations, Rasmussen said the joint shield would unite Russia and NATO politically and ensure nuclear security between the two parties.

Earlier in December, Rogozin said that the military alliance and Russia had formed a working group on missile defense issues and the first meeting would be held in January.

BRUSSELS, January 20 (RIA Novosti)