NATO invites Russia to participate in anti-piracy operation
BRUSSELS. June 30. KAZINFORM NATO sent an official invitation to Russia to participate in the NATO operation "Allied Protector" for the struggle with piracy off the Somali coast, Russian permanent representative at NATO Dmitry Rogozin said in on Monday, Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.
"Russia actually participates in international anti-piracy efforts, just our participation is not under any "umbrella", neither under "the EU umbrella" nor "the NATO umbrella". Captains of our warships cooperate directly with commanders of the fleets from Western countries," Rogozin said.
According to him, Russia "is not allergic" to the participation in the NATO operation. "The Russian political leadership will decide on the issue taking into account all factors. There is a clear-cut position that any decisions should be conditioned by necessary security of our warships and are thoroughly calculated in financial terms," he said.
Rogozin also noted that Russia had received an official invitation from NATO to resume its participation in the NATO anti-terrorist operation "Active Endeavor" in the Mediterranean Sea. Russia's participation in this operation was actually blocked last September, because military partnership was suspended.
The Russian permanent representative recalled that the warships participating in this operation "can stop and examine suspicious vessels, and investigate whether they are involved in the smuggling of weapons or explosives for terrorist acts", Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.