NATO’s reaction to Russia’s decision to suspend the work of diplomatic missions in Brussels and Moscow demonstrates that the Alliance understands its losing position, as stated by the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
According to the NATO Spokesperson, Oana Lungescu, the bloc regrets Russia’s decision to suspend diplomatic missions in Brussels and Moscow but remains open for dialogue, including through the Russian-NATO Council, however, continuing its policy of containing Russia. According to Lavrov, NATO countries “simply buried the basic principle” of the Russia-NATO Council that urgent consultations must be called in crisis situations.
“I think that such pronouncements and assessments by Western representatives reveal an understanding of their losing position, and on the other hand, their inclination to shift the blame onto someone else, as well as the lack of a diplomatic culture,” Lavrov noted.
The Minister stressed that Russia made a response step to three of NATO’s steps when they reduced the Russian mission already three times and still don’t let the country’s representatives work.
“Unlike all other NATO partners, Russian representatives need to apply for a permit to enter the NATO headquarters building. They have to walk only along those corridors that are indicated,” noticed Lavrov.
According to the Minister, all contacts between the military of the bloc and Russia have been cut off and there has been no information exchange for a long time.
“So, what kind of a loss of a possibility for dialogue are we talking about? Two years ago, our Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov suggested drills be moved to a certain distance from the contact line between Russia and NATO and an agreement be reached on minimal distances not to be violated by warplanes and warships. We suggested many other things. And there was a wall of silence,” the Russian diplomat stressed.
He also reminded that when the German foreign minister said that this way Russia is demonstrating its “unpreparedness for talks”, the Russian Minister just responded, “how we were ready and how NATO keeps on ignoring us for years”.
Ru-Main, 20.10.2021
Source: TASS
