Medvedev says Russia prepared to fully break ties with NATO
 SOCHI, Aug 25 (Prime-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Monday that Russia was prepared to fully break ties with the NATO military alliance, ITAR-TASS reported.
"The (North Atlantic) alliance, not Russia, is the one more interested in our cooperation," he said at a meeting with Dmitry Rogozin, the nationalist politician who became Russia's ambassador to NATO in January. "If they cease this cooperation, nothing terrible will happen to us. We're prepared to make any decision, up to breaking relations (with NATO) completely."
Medvedev also criticized NATO for expanding nearer to Russian borders.
"We'd like to have a full-fledged relationship and partnership but we don't need the illusion (of a partnership), when we're being surrounded with (military) bases and when more and more countries are being included in the North Atlantic Alliance," Medvedev said. "Naturally, we don't like that."
Meanwhile, Rogozin accused NATO of applying "double standards" in its relations with Russia.
NATO suspended ties with Russia earlier this month, saying Moscow's military action in Georgia was disproportionate and inconsistent with its peacekeeping role. NATO countries have repeatedly called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia.
Russia and NATO cooperate in the framework of the NATO-Russia Council, which was set up in 2002.
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25.08.2008 18:08
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