Accessibility links

Breaking News

NATO Burnishes Its Image In Russia


NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (right) with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (file photo) (epa) May 18, 2006 -- NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says the alliance wants to change Russians' perceptions of their former Cold War adversary.


Speaking via a video link from Brussels, he told a Moscow conference that "building a bridge of trust and cooperation" between Russia and NATO was a shared "strategic goal."


He also said NATO's expansion, which is viewed with suspicion in Moscow, is not aimed against Russia.


He said former Soviet republics Ukraine and Georgia should be free to join the alliance, but said they would have to meet NATO standards to do so.


The video linkup was part of a promotional campaign, dubbed "NATO-Russia Rally 2006: What Binds Us Together." The two-week campaign, which started on May 11, consists of a series of events in several Russian cities.


Some of the events have been disrupted by small groups of mainly communist or nationalist protesters.


(AP, AFP)

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG