Brussels  - NATO foreign ministers Thursday decided to re- open formal talks with Russia, six months after the alliance broke them off in protest at Russia's invasion of Georgia, officials confirmed.

"Russia is an important player, a global player. Not talking to them is not an option," said NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as he announced a decision to resume meetings of the NATO- Russia Council (NRC) after the alliance's summit of April 3-4.

"Ministers reached agreement to formally resume the NRC, including at ministerial level, as soon as possible after the summit," the NATO chief said.

The news was greeted positively in Moscow, where a foreign ministry spokesman told the Interfax news agency that "common sense has finally prevailed".

The official announcement in Brussels followed a morning of "lively discussions" on whether talking to Russia would be a good idea or not, with Lithuania initially stalling any progress.

Ministers stressed that the alliance was still deeply angered by Russia's decision to invade Georgia and recognize its breakaway territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in August.

But they also acknowledged that they needed Russian help on issues such as Afghanistan, preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and the global fight against terrorism.

Sources close to Thursday's talks said new US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton had been particularly vocal in stressing the need to "explore a fresh start" with Russia.

But discussions stretched to more than double their planned time as Lithuania called for the alliance to put off any decision on re- starting the NRC until a summit planned for April 3-4 in the French city of Strasbourg and its German neighbour, Kehl.

"I think it's a bit premature to open formal dialogue. I think we have to use this time before the summit and encourage Russia to be more cooperative on all the various questions which are a part of NATO security agenda," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Vygaudas Usackas said at the start of the talks.

NATO foreign ministers decided to suspend meetings of the NRC - the usual format for talks with Russia - on August 19 as a sign that there could be "no business as usual" with Moscow.

But in recent months, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's 26 members have decided that it is time for the alliance to re-engage with Russia in order to tackle major international issues ranging from Afghanistan to the global economic crisis.

"NATO and Russia need to work together," said Britain's David Miliband, whose country has been traditionally wary of Moscow's renewed assertiveness.

Thursday's meeting was the first to be attended by Clinton and is the last of its kind before the April summit.

The talks over Russia stole precious time from planned discussions on how to beef up the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and finalize its role in providing security during the August 20 presidential and provincial elections. (dpa)