NATO has had its day, Russia’s Medvedev says

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev stated that the structure of the European security based on NATO’s expansion did not suit Russia, Interfax reports.

Photo: NATO has had its day, Russia’s Medvedev says

Medvedev stated in a televised interview that the previous institutions of European security, which were established during the 1970s, had already become outdated.

“There is a whole set of state-run organizations in Europe, there is the North Atlantic Alliance. However, there is no organization where it could be possible to consider all issues at once. That was the idea of the European Security Treaty,” Medvedev said.

“What was happening during the 1990s and what is happening during the current decade? Unfortunately, the European security has not been strengthening. Quite on the contrary, as they explain to us, the security of Europe is based on the expansion of only one military and political bloc,” Medvedev said speaking about the role of the alliance in Europe.

“NATO becomes larger, while security becomes fragmented. I believe that such a state of affairs does not suit anyone, no matter what our partners in negotiations might say. We need a new approach for that,” the Russian leader said.

“If there was the Helsinki Pact on Security and Cooperation, a new document is supposed to appear. This document would not be against NATO, it would guarantee the European security. What does the notion of the European security stand for? It stands for a whole set of countries, a whole set of components. It includes all European countries, it includes the United States, Canada, it includes all European associations, such as NATO, the European Union, the CIS,” Medvedev said.

“It would be much more efficient to create a new matrix rather than promote NATO everywhere. Such an approach does not suit Russia, and we will react accordingly to that,” Medvedev said.

“What could be better: to create a new security structure or conduct military drills in the locations where military actions took place less than a year ago? We want a new level of security for our country, for our people, taking account of the difficult experience of the 20^th century,” Dmitry Medvedev said.

Medvedev previously offered to hold a summit to discuss his new concept of the European security. However, his suggestion was declined despite the enthusiasm of several European countries, particularly France.