Closer ties with Russia needed, says NATO

  • 2010-04-28
  • From wire reports

TALLINN - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should cooperate with Russia on missile defense and Afghanistan, even though differences remain between the alliance and the Russian government, said NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, reports Bloomberg. A joint effort on missile defense would improve security for all of Europe, Rasmussen said. 

Establishing trust with Russia will be easier if the country’s military leaders leave behind their hostile Cold War stance toward the 28-nation alliance, he noted. “I do believe that we can improve the overall security environment in Europe and the whole Europe-Atlantic area if we cooperate with Russia,” Rasmussen said after a NATO meeting in Tallinn.
NATO foreign ministers met for two days to discuss Afghanistan, the stationing of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe, and the creation of a new strategic posture to face future threats. Rasmussen said ministers decided to initiate a dialogue with Russia about missile defense and the prospect of greater Russian involvement in Afghanistan. “I think there’s potential for further Russian engagement,” the secretary general said, citing the fight against terrorism, illegal drugs and piracy.

As NATO works on its ‘Strategic Concept’ for future challenges, Rasmussen chided Russia’s leaders for “old fashioned” thinking. Missile defense would protect European and Russian populations “against a real missile threat,” he said.
“Russian military doctrine does not reflect the real world,” Rasmussen said. “It states that NATO constitutes a major danger, which is not the reality. I would urge the Russians to forget this old fashioned Cold War rhetoric and instead embark with NATO on shared areas.” Rasmussen also said that NATO will continue to “insist on full respect for Georgia’s sovereignty.” While keeping a “firm stance on core principles,” he said NATO could still develop practical cooperation with Russia in areas of common interest.