Termination of NATO's Open Door Policy, non-enlargement east are 'absolute imperative' for Russia - Deputy FM Grushko

BRUSSELS. Jan 12 (Interfax) - Moscow views the termination of NATO's Open Door Policy and the provision of legally-binding guarantees to Russia that the alliance would not enlarge eastward as "an absolute imperative," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said on Wednesday.

"We talked about this today, saying that this element must be in place in any case, this is an absolute imperative, namely the termination of the Open Door Policy and the provision of legal guarantees to Russia that NATO no longer moves eastward," Grushko said in commenting on outcomes of a NATO-Russia Council meeting in Brussels.

In commenting on statements by Western officials on the freedom of alliances, Grushko said, "The freedom of choosing ways to guarantee one's security must not be exercised in such a way as to infringe on legitimate interests of others, and membership of military alliances should take into account the interests of security of others - these are direct requirements of international obligations that are stipulated by multiple international legal instruments."