BRUSSELS, February 14. /TASS/. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at a press conference ahead of a meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers, that he would meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the margins of the Munich Security Conference.
"I will meet foreign minister Lavrov when I go to Munich. We have met before on the margins of the Munich Security conference and, I think, that provides a useful platform to continue dialog with Russia," he said.
According to the NATO Secretary General, he expected to "discuss a wide range of issues, including the situation in Ukraine, of course, how we can avoid increased tensions, misunderstandings, how we can improve transparency, predictability."
Stoltenberg stressed that he looked forward for the meeting "because NATO pursues a dual track towards Russia." "We are increasing our presence in the eastern part of the lines to deliver the necessary credible deterrence, but at the same time, underlining the importance of keeping the chance for political dialog open, especially in difficult times as these," Stoltenberg elaborated adding that NATO needed "political dialog with Russia."
The Munich Security Conference will be held on February 17-19. Over 500 politicians, businessmen, representatives of the scientific community and human rights organizations from all over the world are expected to take part in the conference. Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.