Russian diplomat: EU policy making Europe less secure
MOSCOW. Oct 13 (Interfax) - Russia's permanent representative to NATO has accused the European Union of an "extremely dangerous" policy that "deepens the dividing lines between Russia and Europe."
"One of the chief ways to achieve any progress in building European security is to work on one's mistakes," Alexander Grushko said during a debate on Monday.
"We and our Western partners, primarily Europe, have to admit that the policy that they are pursuing deepens the dividing lines between Russia and Europe and is extremely dangerous," he said.
"The West must finally admit that the mechanistic policy it has been following in the last few years is leading the West itself into an impasse," Grushko said.
"The events in Ukraine have proven once again that we have been unable to create a single security structure based on the principle of indivisibility," he said.
"Unfortunately, today we have to admit that the political project to unify Europe, Eurasia and Euro-Atlantics has failed to materialize," the diplomat said.
"The greatest contribution to the strengthening of European security, with European nations feeling relatively secure today and allocating about 1.6% to 1.8% [of gross domestic product] for defense, has, of course, been made by Russia," he said.
The executive vice president of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), Dominique David, said the EU sees Russia as "an undemocratic and unpredictable player in the international arena, a player that encourages the use of force."
However, "one of the main reasons of this year's decisions is a desire to push the Europeans back into the arms of the United States," he said.
