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Stoltenberg: NATO will continue engaging in dialogue with Russia "when and where it can"

Moscow considers deployment of Mark 41 Vertical Launching Systems in Romania as a violation of the INF treaty as they are used to fire interceptor missiles and medium-range cruise missiles

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

© EPA/STEPHANIE LECOCQ

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BRUSSELS, May 12. /TASS/. NATO will engage in dialogue with Russia "when and where it can," the North Atlantic Alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday.

"NATO will continue to engage in dialogue with Russia when and where we can. And, right now, when tensions are high, keeping channels of communication open is all the more important. At the same time NATO will continue to strengthen our defense to secure Allies from any threats, including from ballistic missiles," Stoltenberg said ahead of the inaugural ceremony for a land-based capability of the Aegis ballistic missile defense system in Romania.

Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated that Moscow concerns deployment of Mark 41 Vertical Launching Systems in Romania as a violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) because the systems are dual-use. These systems are used at US Nany ships to fire interceptor missiles and Tomahawk medium-range cruise missiles.

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