Russo-NATO relations move from words to practical action

While appearing at a session of the Russian Federal Assembly - NATO Parliamentary Assembly working group, which opened on Thursday in Moscow, Deputy Russian Foreign Minster Vladimir Chizhov said that relations between Russia and the alliance had been transformed from declarations to practical interaction.

Parliamentary co-operation between Russia and Nato, according to Chizhov, guarantees "effective security." The deputy minister highly appraised interaction between parliamentarians from the State Duma, the Federation Council and the Nato Parliamentary Assembly.

Chizhov said that Russia saw Nato "as a partner and not an enemy." The deputy minister expressed his opinion that in the 21st century, the methods of military deterrence had become obsolete. He stressed that "the Nato bloc is a military alliance, as its transformation had not been completed to the end." At the same time, Vladimir Chizhov paid attention to the fact that the structure of the North Atlantic alliance, in particular, in Europe, was being re-organised. "Changes in the architecture of the bloc are linked with the new states joining it," Chizov said.

The deputy foreign minister confirmed Russia's position: Russia does not see a direct threat in Nato enlargement, but, it pays attention to the fact that there will be a zone with varying degrees of security around its borders." In Chizhov's opinion, Russia and Nato need to solve practical tasks, such as the creation of conditions for Euro-Atlantic security.

In connection with this, the deputy minister said that a conference on the role of the military in combating terrorism would be held in Moscow on December 9th. Chizhov said that Russian and Nato representatives, including Nato Secretary General George Robertson, were expected to take part in the meeting.