Russia warns NATO over European security
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
MOSCOW, June 26 (AFP): Russia warned NATO Tuesday against unilateral policies that could destabilise security on the European continent, but agreed to keep talking on deep divisions between the former Cold War foes.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer underlined the need to maintain dialogue on key disputes ranging from US plans for missile defence to Western backing for independence in Kosovo and the future of a key treaty on conventional weapons.
Russia and NATO need to ensure "the security of each other and not take steps aimed at strengthening someone's security at the expense of someone else," Interfax quoted Lavrov as saying at a Russia-NATO Council meeting in Moscow.
These issues "concern key aspects of European, international security, strategic stability," Lavrov said.
However, he added: "We value our NATO partners' readiness to discuss these questions openly with us."
De Hoop Scheffer also said: "We should continue the discussion on subjects on which we do not see eye to eye."
Moscow and NATO disagree sharply on US plans to deploy a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Washington says the system would guard against potential Iranian or North Korean attacks on Europe, while Moscow insists that Russia is the real target.
They are also at odds over Kosovo, with NATO backing a draft UN plan to give the Serbian province near full independence and Moscow threatening to veto the plan in the UN Security Council.
Russia is also furious at NATO's expansion into former Soviet territory, with Georgia and Ukraine being the latest former Soviet republics to apply for membership.
At the start of his visit to Russia Monday, de Hoop Scheffer reiterated that "the door is open" to newcomers.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer underlined the need to maintain dialogue on key disputes ranging from US plans for missile defence to Western backing for independence in Kosovo and the future of a key treaty on conventional weapons.
Russia and NATO need to ensure "the security of each other and not take steps aimed at strengthening someone's security at the expense of someone else," Interfax quoted Lavrov as saying at a Russia-NATO Council meeting in Moscow.
These issues "concern key aspects of European, international security, strategic stability," Lavrov said.
However, he added: "We value our NATO partners' readiness to discuss these questions openly with us."
De Hoop Scheffer also said: "We should continue the discussion on subjects on which we do not see eye to eye."
Moscow and NATO disagree sharply on US plans to deploy a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Washington says the system would guard against potential Iranian or North Korean attacks on Europe, while Moscow insists that Russia is the real target.
They are also at odds over Kosovo, with NATO backing a draft UN plan to give the Serbian province near full independence and Moscow threatening to veto the plan in the UN Security Council.
Russia is also furious at NATO's expansion into former Soviet territory, with Georgia and Ukraine being the latest former Soviet republics to apply for membership.
At the start of his visit to Russia Monday, de Hoop Scheffer reiterated that "the door is open" to newcomers.