NATO not enemy for RF, not aimed against RF – Rasmussen
BRUSSELS. August 4. KAZINFORM NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance is not Russia's enemy and is not aimed against Russia, Kazinform cites ITAR-TASS.
NATO's goal is to jointly fight common challenges, Rasmussen told a press conference on Monday.
NATO will pursue its drive for a strategic partnership with Russia, but Moscow must respect the sovereignty and integrity of its neighbours, the new head of the alliance, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said.
Rasmussen 56, who took over on Saturday as secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, faces many challenges but none more daunting than finding a winning strategy for the war in Afghanistan and improving relations with its former Cold War foe Russia.
Rasmussen said the 28-member alliance and Russia had common goals in the key areas of counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, disarmament and non-proliferation.
On relations with Russia, "I think we should develop practical cooperation ... while of course insisting on Russian compliance with her international obligations including respect of the sovereignty and integrity of her neighbours," Rasmussen said.
"My goal is to develop a true strategic partnership with Russia, while of course realising that there might be differences in our positions in a number of areas," Rasmussen said, Kazinform refers to ITAR-TASS.
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