NATO-Russia Council meets after NATO activities in Eastern Europe

(Baonghean.vn) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexey Meshkov said on July 4 that Moscow does not rule out the possibility of holding a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council (NRC) right after the NATO Summit ends in Warsaw, Poland on July 9.

The Russia-NATO Council is scheduled to meet immediately after the NATO Summit ends on July 9. Photo: epa.

According to Mr. Meshkov, the main topic on the regular agenda of the Russia-NATO Council will be related to the decision to increase NATO's presence in Eastern Europe and its implications for European security.

“In the context of the ongoing development of the US and NATO missile defense systems in Europe, the missile issue will certainly also be discussed,” Mr. Meshkov added.

In addition, the NRC meeting will also exchange views between the two sides on a number of other important regional and international issues.

Earlier, Russia's Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko confirmed that the meeting between NATO and Russia will not be delayed. "Russia is in contact with NATO about arranging the time and setting out the principles of the meeting," Mr. Grushko said.

In April 2014, the NATO Alliance suspended all cooperation with Russia including the NRC amid the escalating conflict in Ukraine and Russia's annexation of Crimea.

The NRC last met on April 20, nearly two years after its last meeting, to discuss the crisis in and around Ukraine; issues related to military operations such as transparency and risk reduction; and an assessment of the security situation in Afghanistan.

Thanh Hien

(According to Tass)