Jens Stoltenberg
NATO believes in the necessity of dialogue with Russia. As reported on Friday, February 17, RIA Novosti, the Secretary General of the Alliance Jens Stoltenberg said at a meeting with the Minister of foreign Affairs of Russia Sergey Lavrov in the framework of the security conference in Munich.
Stoltenberg, in particular, stressed that “firmly on the need for dialogue with Russia.” “I know from a position of strength”, — quotes news Agency the answer of the foreign Minister of the Russian Federation. The Secretary General, in turn, added: “With a predictable position.”
Sergey Lavrov also welcomed the fact that NATO remains engaged in a dialogue with Moscow. “I expect to discuss some practical issues”, — he said.
According to TASS, at a press briefing on the sidelines of the Munich forum Stoltenberg said that NATO is working to improve relations with Russia. However, he noted that the decision on the termination of practical cooperation with Russia is still valid. “This decision still remains in force. But we stressed that the termination of practical cooperation does not mean that we stop the political dialogue,” he said.
The Russian foreign Ministry announced that Lavrov and Stoltenberg on the sidelines of the Munich security conference discussed the current state and prospects of relations between Russia and NATO, and current issues of “international and European agenda.”
February 16 at a press conference in Brussels, Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence that the dialogue with Moscow must be supported by “hard predictable approach” and “credible deterrence”. Previously, he has repeatedly stated that NATO does not want cold war with Russia, but also stressed that Moscow can maintain good neighborly relations, “if you are strong, solid and predictable.”
In 2014 amid the crisis in Ukraine, NATO has decided to suspend all practical cooperation with Russia, while maintaining political dialogue at the ambassadorial level and above. Meeting of the Council Russia — NATO was not held for two years and was renewed in April 2016.