NATO blatantly shifts interaction with Russia into confrontational logic - Russian diplomat
MOSCOW. June 28 (Interfax) - A senior Russian diplomat has accused the North Atlantic alliance of a confrontational policy towards Russia.
"Today NATO is blatantly shifting its interaction with Russia into confrontational logic. There is no other way to interpret the alliance's policy of beefing up the military potential on the 'eastern flank' and the official course towards 'deterrence' of Russia. This is a direct encroachment on security fundamentals in Europe," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov said at the opening ceremony of the OSCE Annual Security Review Conference in Vienna on Tuesday.
The text of his speech was published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website.
"Unprecedented militarization of Central and Eastern Europe is underway. Practically all NATO countries have taken the course towards enlargement of their military expenditures. The alliance is holding unfoundedly massive military exercises," Meshkov said.
"This month alone, the Anaconda 2016 exercises - which, by the way, were the largest since 1989 - and naval exercises held in the same period simultaneously gathered 50,000 servicemen from NATO and partner countries near the Russian borders. We are constantly hearing about 'permanent military presence' plans from the alliance administration," the Russian diplomat said.
"Military infrastructures are actively developing - rapid response forces, forward coordination centers and warehouses are being deployed," he said.
"The strategic situation in Europe is being complicated by U.S. plans to deploy a missile defense network in Europe. Importantly, Washington has no intention of adjusting its missile defense plans despite the progress made at negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program," Meshkov said.
"Against this backdrop NATO countries are inviting Russia to work on 'substantial modernization' of the 2011 Vienna Document, where they are mostly suggesting measures for higher transparency of the Russian Armed Forces," he said.
"This is a theater of the absurd. I would like to remind you that transparency measures cannot be instigated in a setting of confrontation, sanctions policy and the refusal to have military cooperation. A new system of control over conventional armaments can be built only on the basis of reciprocity, respect for national interests and equal and indivisible security for all. Confidence building measures and the arms control regime should be considered jointly," Meshkov said.
Nevertheless, "we still hope that common sense will win in NATO," the Russian diplomat said, adding, "Hopefully, our Western partners will be able to abandon confrontational schemes and will think of pooling efforts with Russia in the provision of global and regional security," Meshkov said.
