MOSCOW - NATO Secretary General George Robertson said on Friday that President Vladimir Putin had ruled out any attempt by Russia to join the Atlantic alliance by the front door or back.

"He (Putin) said this was not some backdoor method of Russia getting membership in NATO, and he already ruled out going in the front door," Robertson told reporters after Kremlin talks with Putin.

The NATO chief was referring to discussions between the military alliance and Moscow on building radically closer ties to reflect their joint efforts in fighting terrorism.

Robertson told Reuters on Thursday that a plan floated by Britain "implies" handing Russia a veto in NATO affairs under some circumstances. Nampa-Reuters 1445 231101 WEB story ENDS (NAMPA 231441)