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NATO secretary general: Dialogue with Russia even more important when tensions are high

According to the NATO chief, "a new Cold War is in nobody’s interest"

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg EPA/MARCIN OBARA

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

© EPA/MARCIN OBARA

PARIS, June 3. /TASS/. Dialogue between NATO and Russia is even more important when tensions are high, North Atlantic Alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference in Paris on Friday.

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"Defense and dialogue are the two tracks of NATO’s approach to Russia," Stoltenberg said. "And we are moving forward on both tracks," he added.

"Dialogue between NATO and Russia is even more important when tensions are high. Because we must avoid accidents and incidents spiralling out of control," Stoltenberg said adding that "a new Cold War is in nobody’s interest."

The NATO secretary general said he discussed the agenda for the Warsaw Summit with French President Francois Hollande. "We reviewed our agenda for the Warsaw Summit, including our plans to enhance our forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance. This is a defensive and proportionate response to Russia’s actions in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.

Addressing Hollande, Stoltenberg said: "In particular I appreciate your (France’s) efforts, along with Germany, to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine.".

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