NATO Buildup Near Russian Borders Undermines Security - Lavrov
18:05 07.02.2015(updated 19:12 07.02.2015)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated after meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that NATO's course on strengthening its military potential and expanding its military presence in eastern Europe provokes confrontation and undermines the whole system of Euro-Atlantic security.
MOSCOW, (Sputnik) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated Saturday that NATO military buildup near the Russian borders fuels up confrontation and undermines European security.
Lavrov met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to discuss the deterioration of relations between Russia and NATO in light of the Ukrainian crisis.
'NATO's course on strengthening its military potential and expanding its military presence and infrastructure on the alliance's 'eastern flank' as well as an increase in the number of exercises near the Russian borders creates additional tensions, provoke confrontation and undermine the whole system of Euro-Atlantic security,' the Russian Foreign Ministry quoted Lavrov as saying.
The sides also discussed the current standoff between Kiev authorities and self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics in eastern Ukraine.
'Lavrov stressed that NATO support of Kiev's military action in southern Ukraine hampers attempts to find a peaceful resolution of the deep domestic crisis in Ukraine,' the ministry said.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov explained that all the measures taken by NATO are defensive and pledged to maintain an open channel of dialogue with Moscow.
'#NATO SG @jensstoltenberg after talks w/#Russia FM Lavrov: I explained all our measures are defensive. We keep channels of dialogue open,' the alliance's spokesperson Oana Lungescu posted on her Twitter.
Stoltenberg and Russia's foreign policy chief held a meeting earlier on Saturday at the 51st Munich Security Conference, being held February 6-8.
On Thursday, the defense ministers of NATO member-states agreed on the creation of six new command and control posts in Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania during a meeting in Brussels. The ministers also announced that NATO's Response Force would be increased from 13,000 to 30,000 people.
Russia's envoy to the alliance, Alexander Grushko said the decision 'creates a great risk for Russia', primarily in the Baltics, which could become a region of 'military confrontation.'
© Sputnik
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