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Moscow highlights crucial role of INF treaty for security in Europe at NATO-Russia Council

The Russian delegation said the INF Treaty represents an important factor of European and global stability
NATO headquarters in Brussels EPA/JULIEN WARNAND
NATO headquarters in Brussels
© EPA/JULIEN WARNAND

BRUSSELS, November 1. /TASS/. Russia highlighted the decisive role of preserving the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty for security in Europe at the NATO-Russia Council meeting on Wednesday, the Russian mission to the Alliance said.

"The Russian delegation highlighted the importance of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) as a factor of European and global stability," the document says.

Earlier, both sides had not confirmed the fact that the US possible withdrawal from the INF Treaty would be on the agenda of the NATO-Russia Council.

The Russian mission pointed out that the meeting focused on pressing issues related to the urgency to reduce military tensions between NATO and Russia.

"On 31 October, the NATO-Russia Council discussed issues related to reducing military tensions between Russia and NATO and preventing dangerous incidents, including an exchange of briefings on exercises ‘Trident Juncture-2018’ and ‘Vostok-2018’," the document says.

"There was an exchange of views on the situation in Afghanistan in the context of regional terrorist threats as well as other matters of international security," it said.

The meeting has become second since the beginning of 2018 and eighth in the past 24 months. It was attended by Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to NATO Yury Gorlach.