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Moscow slams Polish FM's remarks on NATO-Russia Council meeting — source

A source says Russia’s Foreign Ministry has been puzzled by Polish top diplomat's remarks that the NATO-Russia Council could be convened in the foreseeable future

© AP Photo/Virginia Mayo

MOSCOW, December 7. /TASS/. Russia’s Foreign Ministry has been puzzled by Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski’s remarks made at the NATO Council’s meeting of foreign ministers that the NATO-Russia Council could be convened in the foreseeable future, a source with the Russian foreign ministry told TASS on Wednesday.

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"A decision to announce the date of a next NATO-Russia Council (NRC) is made by the head, namely by the NATO secretary general, after agreeing it with all the member countries but first of all, with Russia," he said. "Taking this into consideration, it has set us wondering that Poland’s foreign minister makes attempts to try on functions of the NATO-Russia Council’s chief and to speak on his behalf. Moreover, Minister Waszczykowski has come to saying that Russia understands meaning of the NATO-Russia Council in some other way than NATO."

"In line with the declaration ‘NATO-Russia Relations: a New Quality’ signed at the summit Russia and the alliance held in Rome on May 28, 2002, the NATO-Russia Council stands as a mechanism for consultations, for finding a consensus, for cooperation, joint decisions and joint efforts of Russia and NATO in a wide range of security issues in the Euro Atlantic region," he said.

"Instead of chewing fat, they would better advise to Waszczykowski to refresh in his memory the contents of founding documents signed by Russia and NATO, if he has ever read them," the source said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Polish minister had said that a next meeting of the Russia-NATO Council might take place until the end of the year. "There are plans to hold a meeting this month," he said.

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