NATO urges Russia to change its course in Ukraine (SG: All allies to take responsibility for their share of the cost of security...)

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has urged Russia to reverse its course on Ukraine policy and to take steps towards rebuilding trust.
"Russia’s actions threaten the peace and security we have built after the fall of the Berlin Wall," Rasmussen said Wednesday in a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "And let me stress: nobody wants to return to the Europe of the Cold War. We cannot have new dividing lines across our continent."

NATO Secretary General told journalists that his discussions with the German Chancellor had largely focused on the Ukraine crisis and the upcoming NATO summit in Wales. Merkel also promised stronger support for NATO’s reinforcements in Poland and Baltic states.

"Article 5 of the NATO agreement applies for every member state. We have always emphasized that," Merkel said, referring to the commitment of allies to a collective defense in the event of an attack against any member state.
Praising Merkel’s efforts for a diplomatic solution to the crisis Rasmussen also insisted that NATO would continue to reinforce collective defense in light of Russia’s recent actions in the region.  

"We have taken decisive action to ensure the defense and security of all our allies. And we will take more steps if required. All the measures we are taking are defensive, appropriate and fully in line with our international obligations," Rasmussen said.......................http://www.aa.com.tr/en/headline/353246--nato-urges-russia
2/7/14
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• NATO Secretary General thanks Germany for its leadership within the Alliance.

NATO Homepage, 02 Jul. 2014:

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen thanked Germany for its pivotal role in the Alliance during a visit to Berlin on Wednesday (2 July). “I am very grateful for Germany’s leading role in Afghanistan and in Kosovo. You have shown your commitment to your fellow Allies in reinforcing our collective defence in light of the Russia-Ukraine crisis,” he said after talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Mr. Fogh Rasmussen also held talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen to prepare the Wales Summit in September and to discuss the challenging situation on NATO's eastern and southern borders. Meetings with members of the German Bundestag’s Foreign Policy Committee and the Defence Committee are also on the agenda to discuss a broad range of security issues.

The Secretary General expressed his gratitude to Chancellor Merkel for her personal commitment in trying to de-escalate the Ukraine crisis. “Russia’s actions threaten the peace and security we have built after the fall of the Berlin Wall. And let me stress: nobody wants to return to the Europe of the Cold War,” he said. “We cannot have new dividing lines across our continent. Therefore, I call on Russia to reverse its course and to begin the long process of rebuilding the trust it has broken.”

•  The Secretary General stressed that in today’s dangerous world, "it is important that we keep our robust defences to keep our nations safe, and I count on all allies to take responsibility for their share of the cost of security to keep our alliance strong."

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_111512.htm 2/7/14
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Related:

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• Les USA poussent l'Ukraine vers une confrontation (Lavrov)

• Gorbatschow: USA haben Vereinbarung über Verzicht auf Osterweiterung gebrochen

• Πούτιν: H προβοκάτσια της Δύσης στη Ουκρανία έχει στόχο τη Ρωσία και εκατομμύρια αθώων ανθρώπων «πληρώνουν» τα πολιτικά τους παιχνίδια

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