"Cooperation between Russia and NATO has been completely cut off, both politically and militarily," he told Ria Novosti Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grusko. Grusco said that NATO was the one who denied a positive agenda in its relations with Russia, noting that at the moment there is no evidence that this organization knows that it will get out of the impasse.
The Russian deputy minister also said that NATO has gone too far in its confrontation with Russia, claiming that the current situation is reminiscent of the Cold War period.
"The paradox is that today's Russia-NATO relations are more reminiscent of a 'normal' situation, the time when NATO was being created, the time of the 'Cold War'," he said. He added that disagreements within the alliance exist and existed, but today are "even deeper than in the past" and that the North Atlantic Alliance is trying to rally around the so-called "Russian threat".
In fact, referring to these disagreements within NATO, he referred to the military intervention in Iraq in 2003, which he said had caused intense friction between the main countries of the alliance. The Russian Deputy Foreign Minister also said that NATO is undoubtedly a serious factor in the field of security, which we do not intend to ignore. In fact, we understand that much of what is happening within the alliance is a consequence of US policy. "If Russia-US relations change, so will Russia-NATO relations."
Finally, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister recalled that "the Russian reaction to the events of September 11, 2001 was the catalyst for the establishment of a new quality of relations with the alliance, for the establishment of the Russia-NATO Council."
- Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ / Μ.ΜΕΝ.