His concept of a new security pact was not directed against anyone, Medvedev said. 'Russia is prepared to discuss it with everyone.'

George Robertson, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation secretary general from 1999 to 2003, speaking in Yaroslavl, urged Russia and the alliance to cooperate closely. This was both 'possible and necessary,' he told DPA.

In all around 100 delegates from 18 countries were taking part in the one-day conference, including the former European Commission president Romano Prodi, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his French counterpart Francois Fillon.

According to Russian daily Nezavisimaia Gazeta, the Kremlin wants to position the gathering in the city of 600,000 inhabitants as an extension of the annual security conference held in Munich, Germany.