Russia vows to protect national security amid NATO military deployment.

Moscow will take into consideration NATO's military deployment when making national security plans, a senior Russian diplomat said Thursday.

"We should certainly be very vigilant about the military preparations under way near our borders," said Alexander Grushko, Russia's ambassador to NATO.

Russia has to consider an entire set of security measures with regard to NATO's military plans, he said.

Grushko also mentioned the decisions made at the latest NATO summit in Wales. "These decisions show that NATO is moving toward the security scheme of the Cold War time," he said.

In order to resume cooperation, NATO must reconsider the decisions for the sake of its own interests and of global security issues, the Interfax news agency quoted Grushko as saying.

Russia has been ready to continue cooperation in the interests of global and regional security, but NATO has decided to suspend cooperation in the Afghanistan issue and in the fight against terrorism, he added.

• Jens Stoltenberg, who will take office as NATO's new secretary-general on Oct. 1, said Wednesday that the bloc is not planning to return to the previous partnership format with Moscow, accusing Russia of "sticking to a more aggressive policy."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sept. 11 that the West has taken advantage of the crisis in Ukraine to resuscitate NATO, and that Russia will take measures to strengthen Moscow's military power against emerging security threats.
 Sources:Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
25/9/14
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