Russia To Join Hands With Nato For Security Against Terror: Defence Minister

Russia is more willing to cooperate with NATO in security policies than in the military field, Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said to a news conference in Rostov-on-Don, provincial centre in European Russia's south. International terrorism is a tangible danger, and it cannot be fought back without Russian contribution. That is quite evident, pointed out the minister. A recent understanding for a new format 20 to arrange Russia-NATO contacts does not in the slightest imply that Russia will join the alliance, let alone the NATO military organisation. "Neither NATO nor Russia need it, and I want to bring it home to all, said Mr. Ivanov. He confirmed Moscow's stance on NATO eastward expansion blueprints. Russia opposes the prospects as it was coming out against them previously. European continental threats are conventional or hypothetical, and to extend membership of the NATO military organisation does not mean to settle political security issues. Even a changed format of Russia-NATO partnership will hardly remove the difference of opinions on bloc expansion, warned the minister. Sergei Ivanov is today making a tour of units on the North Caucasian Military District.