Info) MOSCOW - December 4, 2008: The decision by NATO foreign ministers to resume dialogue with Russia shows the alliance is taking a more realistic stance on world affairs, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
NATO foreign ministers agreed on Tuesday in Brussels to gradually resume contacts with Moscow, suspended after Russia's armed conflict with Georgia in August.
"We have noted the proposal by foreign ministers from the North Atlantic alliance to resume a political dialogue with Russia in the Russia-NATO Council format. Although several conditions have been attached to this process, we believe that the alliance is returning to a realistic position," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also welcomed NATO's decision to delay Ukraine and Georgia's admission to the Membership Action Plan (MAP), a key step for entry into the military alliance.
At Tuesday's NATO meeting, Western European powers led by Germany put the dampeners on U.S. plans to fast-track the two post-Soviet countries' entry into the alliance. However, Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the alliance would "beef up" the NATO-Ukraine and NATO-Georgia commissions to help speed up reforms needed for the countries' eventual membership.
"The fact that no decision was made on admitting Georgia and Ukraine to the Membership Action Plan reflects, in our opinion, an acknowledgement of risks related to quickly pulling these countries into the alliance," the ministry said.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Russia Welcomes NATO Decision To Resume Dialogue
Russia welcomes NATO decision to resume dialogue
(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - December 4, 2008: The decision by NATO foreign ministers to resume dialogue with Russia shows the alliance is taking a more realistic stance on world affairs, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
NATO foreign ministers agreed on Tuesday in Brussels to gradually resume contacts with Moscow, suspended after Russia's armed conflict with Georgia in August.
"We have noted the proposal by foreign ministers from the North Atlantic alliance to resume a political dialogue with Russia in the Russia-NATO Council format. Although several conditions have been attached to this process, we believe that the alliance is returning to a realistic position," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also welcomed NATO's decision to delay Ukraine and Georgia's admission to the Membership Action Plan (MAP), a key step for entry into the military alliance.
At Tuesday's NATO meeting, Western European powers led by Germany put the dampeners on U.S. plans to fast-track the two post-Soviet countries' entry into the alliance. However, Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the alliance would "beef up" the NATO-Ukraine and NATO-Georgia commissions to help speed up reforms needed for the countries' eventual membership.
"The fact that no decision was made on admitting Georgia and Ukraine to the Membership Action Plan reflects, in our opinion, an acknowledgement of risks related to quickly pulling these countries into the alliance," the ministry said.
Info) MOSCOW - December 4, 2008: The decision by NATO foreign ministers to resume dialogue with Russia shows the alliance is taking a more realistic stance on world affairs, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
NATO foreign ministers agreed on Tuesday in Brussels to gradually resume contacts with Moscow, suspended after Russia's armed conflict with Georgia in August.
"We have noted the proposal by foreign ministers from the North Atlantic alliance to resume a political dialogue with Russia in the Russia-NATO Council format. Although several conditions have been attached to this process, we believe that the alliance is returning to a realistic position," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also welcomed NATO's decision to delay Ukraine and Georgia's admission to the Membership Action Plan (MAP), a key step for entry into the military alliance.
At Tuesday's NATO meeting, Western European powers led by Germany put the dampeners on U.S. plans to fast-track the two post-Soviet countries' entry into the alliance. However, Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the alliance would "beef up" the NATO-Ukraine and NATO-Georgia commissions to help speed up reforms needed for the countries' eventual membership.
"The fact that no decision was made on admitting Georgia and Ukraine to the Membership Action Plan reflects, in our opinion, an acknowledgement of risks related to quickly pulling these countries into the alliance," the ministry said.
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