Russian Parliamentarian Admits Possibility Of Russia's Participation In US Retribution Actions

Speaking at the press conference in RIA Novosti Aleksei Arbatov, Deputy Chairman of the Duma defence committee, admitted the possibility of Russia's participation in US retribution actions only if Washington turned to Moscow with a relevant request. The USA should hold consultations with Russia on the conditions of Moscow's possible participation in the action. The deputy added however that he had no information on such consultations. Arbatov hoped "such consultations were being held". "It would be strange if they /consultations/ were not being held", the parliamentarian noted. Arbatov reminded of US Undersecretary of State John Bolton's meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Georgy Mamedov and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov held in Moscow yesterday. As for the NATO, "if the USA agrees with its allies and follows the policy of turning the NATO into an anti-terrorist organization which implies a profound NATO reform it would be possible to consider Russia's participation in this organization", the deputy believes.