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Russia-NATO Council meeting is possible — diplomat

Russia’s Permanent Representative to NATO said the alliance is switching over to a policy of deterrence

© AP Photo/Gero Breloer

MOSCOW, December 7 /TASS/. A meeting of the Russia-NATO Council is possible. It should be thoroughly prepared but it is still unclear how it should be held, Russia’s Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko said on Monday.

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"NATO has made no official proposals (to hold the meeting) as of yet. But we discussed this theme during our contacts with NATO representatives who are members of the Russia-NATO Council," the Russian diplomat said.

"NATO’s secretary general is right when he says that the Russia-NATO Council continues its existence as an institution," Grushko said adding it was necessary to thoroughly prepare the Council’s meeting under the current circumstances.

"If we are going to hold such a meeting, we should have a clear idea what ‘value added cost’ it has. As for today, it is unclear because NATO is departing from partnership and switching over to a policy of deterrence. It is abandoning all the projects, which the Russia-NATO Council used to discuss," Grushko added.

"They concern fight against terrorism, the situation in Afghanistan, including the training of anti-drug experts for Afghanistan and Pakistan and technicians for maintaining Mi-17 and Mi-6 helicopters," the Russian diplomat said.

"But we are going to consult with the ambassadors. Russia has never tried to evade a dialogue. But such a meeting (of the Russia-NATO Council) will require thorough preparations and also understanding what results we should seek to achieve," Grushko concluded.

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