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NATO chief’s first statements inspire no optimism — Russia ForMin

Nonetheless, Russia is ready for cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance to an extent of NATO countries’ readiness for it, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich says

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg EPA/HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

© EPA/HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN

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MOSCOW, October 9. /TASS/. First statements by NATO’s new Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg inspire no optimism, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said on Thursday.

“He (NATO secretary general) is tied up with far-reaching decisions taken at the alliance’s summit in Wales,” Lukashevich said. “It would be naive to think that the new secretary-general would revise this stance.”

Nonetheless, Russia is ready for cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance to an extent of NATO countries’ readiness for it, the Russian diplomat notes. “However, NATO’s rhetoric and actions suggest otherwise,” he said, adding that theses like those saying that Russia has suddenly turned from a partner to a threat are very alarming.

“The atmosphere of relations with NATO we have had for years has vanished overnight, and it would be very difficult to resume dialogue,” Lukashevich said.

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Foreign policy Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich NATO

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