BRUSSELS, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin on Wednesday welcomed NATO's decision to gradually re-engage with Moscow and accepted its offer to hold informal meetings in the framework of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC).

    Rogozin insisted that NATO foreign ministers' decision to restore relations with Russia was unconditional, contrary to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer's interpretation, who on Tuesday characterized the ministers' decision as "a conditional and graduated re-engagement."

    "In the final document, there was no mentioning of it (being conditional). So it means the restoring of relations of Russia with NATO is unconditional, which we can only welcome of course," Rogozin told reporters immediately after the end of the foreign ministers' meeting.

    The final communique of the meeting released on Wednesday says NATO will re-engage Russia "in a measured and phased approach."

    On NATO's decision to open informal discussions in the NRC, Rogozin said there is no difference between a formal meeting and an informal meeting. "I personally don't really see any difference between a formal meeting and an informal meeting apart from the fact that there is no coffee in a formal meeting," he said.

    He said Russia is ready to consider the possibility of holding an informal meeting of the NRC, in response to NATO's offer. Rogozin said Russia would not go to the meeting as if nothing has changed since the Georgia-Russia conflict in August. Russia would protest NATO's position on Georgia behind closed doors, he said.

    NATO decided to enhance cooperation with Georgia and condemned Russia for its "disproportionate use of force" and its recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- the two breakaway regions in Georgia -- as independent states.

    Rogozin would not say whether the NATO ministers' decision on Russia is vindication of Moscow's strategy. "The decision that the NATO ministers have taken today is a cautious attempt to restore NATO's relations with Russia and Russia regards it with cautious optimism," he said.

    Rogozin was also satisfied with NATO's decision not to give fast-track membership to Georgia and Ukraine, saying he cannot imagine how Georgia can join NATO after it committed atrocities in South Osseti in August. The majority of Ukrainian citizens do not support NATO membership for their country, he added.