Russia's ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin warned Wednesday NATO
against filling the gap of losses of the Georgian military incurred
in its conflict with Russia.
"Any attempt of NATO to fill the gap of losses of the
Georgian army contradicts the conventions of the OSCE (Organization
of Security and Cooperation in Europe)," Rogozin told reporters.
All NATO countries, Russia and Georgia are members of the
OSCE.
He said the provision of strategic armament to Georgia and
the flight of NATO reconnaissance planes along Russia's borders as
requested by Georgia are regarded as hostile actions to Russia.
He warned that these actions may make Russia change its
position on its relationship with the West, including military
cooperation and on Moscow's policy on Iran.
He said Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's "outrageous
demands" must be rejected by the West as they are dangerous for the
whole world.
He added, however, that Moscow is not cutting off ties with
the West. Several cooperation activities have been called off. But
the total cancellation of the projects is not happening.
"The cooling down of the relationship should not lead to
complete freezing," he said.
He also asked Western politicians and diplomats to tone down
their rhetoric against Russia and begin talks.
"I would like the megaphone to be left aside and we would
proceed to calm and serious discussions of what is to be done to
(begin) the immediate peace building in the region," he said.
He again warned that Georgia's NATO membership is dangerous
for Europe as that may lead to direct conflict between NATO and
Russia.
Georgia launched attacks in South Ossetia on Aug. 7 in an
attempt to regain control of the breakaway region. Tbilisi's move
triggered prompt reaction from Russia, whose troops drove Georgian
forces out of the region and took parts of Georgian territory.
The West is accusing Russia of being slow in troops
withdrawal which is provided for in a peace agreement. Russia has
said the pullout is to be completed by Friday.
Russia to freeze military cooperation with NATO
Norway confirmed on Wednesday that Russia would freeze its
cooperation with the Western alliance NATO, according to reports
reaching here from Oslo.
Russian authorities informed the Norwegian Foreign Ministry
on Wednesday that officials in Moscow were immediately halting,
canceling or postponing all planned military cooperation with
NATO's members, the Norwegian daily Aftenposten quoted government
sources as saying.
The warning from Russia comes a day after NATO members
meeting at a summit in Brussels criticized Russia's military
aggression in Georgian territory and voted to suspend cooperation
with NATO's Russian council, the daily said.
"There's no doubt that our relationship to Russian has now
chilled," Espen Barth Eide, state secretary in the Norwegian
Defense Ministry, told Aftenposten.
Around 10 joint military exercises were planned involving
Russian and NATO members through the end of this year. They will
probably all be canceled, the daily said.
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