MOSCOW - The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it has recognized Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) as the legitimate government of the north African country.

In a statement posted on its website, the Foreign Ministry said that Russia recognizes the NTC as the current governing authority and "takes note of its declared reform program, which calls for the development of a new constitution, the holding of general elections and the formation of a government."

The ministry also said Moscow hoped all the contracts between Russia and Libya that had been signed during Muammar Gaddafi's reign would remain in force and be respected.

Russia wants to maintain its established diplomatic relations with Libya and never interrupt them "regardless of which government was in power in Tripoli," the ministry said.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on August 21 that Gaddafi's regime was "clearly crumbling" and that NATO would work with the Libyan rebels to guarantee a peaceful transition.

Also on Thursday, Russia's special presidential envoy Mikhail Margelov will attend a high-level meeting in Paris to discuss Libya's future after Gaddafi.