NATO head urges closer ties with Russia

By Staff
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Geneva, Sept 8: NATO called for closer ties with Russia today, a day after British warplanes scrambled to intercept Russian bombers on patrol, and said it was up to the Kremlin to spell out whether it had a ''different view''.

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said the relationship between Russia and the 26-nation Western defence alliance remained vulnerable but that closer ties were worth the effort.

''If we look at Russia's recent behaviour, we see that, even after a decade of steady progress, the NATO-Russia relationship remains vulnerable to Cold War stereotypes. We have to get beyond this state of affairs,'' he said in a speech delivered to a strategy conference in Geneva.

''We must not allow short-term, tactical considerations to put at risk a long-term, strategic partnership,'' he said. ''We must move the NATO-Russia relationship forward.'' Russia's resumption of long-range bomber patrols, recent tests of a new generation of intercontinental missiles and the resumption of large-scale exercises have taken place against a backdrop of new strains in ties between Russia and the West.

''For us, a solid, trustful NATO-Russia relationship remains a long-term investment in European, and indeed global, security.

It is up to Russia to clarify whether she holds a different view,'' de Hoop Scheffer said.

The Kremlin accuses Washington of ''unilateralism'' and opposes its plans to set up new bases and deploy elements of its missile defence shield in central and eastern Europe.

Russia fears this move and NATO's overtures towards former Soviet Georgia and Ukraine viewed by Moscow as part of its traditional sphere of influence will lead to its military encirclement.

Yesterday, Russia's Defence Ministry said 14 Russian strategic bombers had started long-range routine patrols on Wednesday evening over the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Arctic.

None had approached a foreign state, the ministry said.

Britain's air force scrambled four Tornado warplanes on Thursday to intercept the Russian Tupolev Tu-95s, which did not enter British air space, the British Ministry of Defence said.

The two former Cold War foes formed the NATO-Russia Council five years ago to improve ties. Results have been patchy but some cooperation has emerged for example, a Russian vessel is supporting NATO anti-terrorism patrols in the Mediterranean.

Reuters>

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