Photo:
RIA Novosti
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday reaffirmed that his military-political bloc “does not seek confrontation with Russia” and intends to continue political dialogue with Moscow.
“NATO continues to aspire to a more constructive and predictable relations with Russia to preserve peace and improve relations between NATO and Russia, as well as to encourage Russia to act within the norms and rules of the international community,” he said, speaking at an international meeting on security issues in the Italian Rimini.
The performance was broadcasted by the organizers in the Internet.
Noting that ” transparency and predictability are critical, especially when tensions are high,” Stoltenberg announced the intention ” to continue the political dialogue with Russia.”
NATO Secretary General claimed that the Alliance seeks ” not to provoke but to prevent the conflict.” “All our measures are defensive in nature, they are transparent, proportionate and consistent with our international obligations,” he said.
NATO’s relationship with Russia has worsened in March 2014. Press Secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov declared that Russia for anybody not a threat, but will not leave without attention, potentially dangerous to its interests. The Russian defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported that a group of NATO near the borders of Russia for ten years has tripled, while the Western boundaries — eight times.
In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with Director Oliver stone in the film shown on the TV channel Showtime, said that NATO enlargement and the deployment of a missile defense system (NMD) in Europe is forcing Russia to react. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that Russia will never attack any of the NATO countries. According to the head of the Russian foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, NATO is well aware of the lack of Moscow plans to attack anyone, but just enjoy the occasion in order to accommodate more vehicles and battalions near the Russian border.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a military exercise Iron Wolf Saber Strike 2017 and 2017 to Litauens Stoltenberg. Archive photo