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Comment by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the NATO summit in Wales
The results of the NATO summit in Wales (4-5 September) are hardly surprising. The alliance established in the Cold War era as a military and political bloc cannot change its genetic code by definition. Its strategic course on interfering in the affairs of foreign states did not emerge yesterday or today. It logically flows from NATO’s search for its role and place in the global security system under the conditions of the absence of a coalition military confrontation.
The results of the summit have graphically demonstrated that NATO whose policy is dictated by the United States and hawks in some European capitals has been striving for military domination in Europe in violation of the agreements on the importance of a system of equitable and indivisible security for the Euro- Atlantic region, that have been reaffirmed numerously at all levels. The efforts of the international community to counter the real threats and challenges of our time, such as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, drug trafficking, piracy, and natural and man-made disasters are being sacrificed in this process.
Realistic people in Europe understand that this approach is flawed, which preserves the format of the Russia-NATO Council in the current conditions. This council was designed as an efficient mechanism for conducting consultations, coordinating common approaches, maintaining cooperation, and making joint decisions and moves by Russia and NATO countries on a broad range of security issues in the Euro-Atlantic region. The council has proved its efficiency.
The summit adopted a line towards NATO’s eastward expansion and build-up of its presence near Russia’s borders. These plans were nurtured for a long time and the Ukrainian crisis became merely an excuse for the start of their implementation.
The gist and tone of statements on the situation around Ukraine and the announced plans of NATO countries to conduct a joint drill with Ukraine on its territory before the end of this year are bound to escalate tensions, threaten the start of progress regarding a peaceful settlement in Ukraine and contribute to the deepening of the split in Ukrainian society. Moreover, they testify to NATO’s unreserved support for Kiev’s neo-Nazi and extremist forces, including the Right Sector.
We will analyse in detail the summit’s specific decisions. In part, we will review them to establish if they correspond with the provisions of the 1997 Russia-NATO Founding Act and other fundamental agreements on European security.
5 September 2014
