Contents tagged with NATO
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Stoltenberg: The security situation in the Donbas is 'extremely serious'
The security situation in the eastern Ukraine is “extremely serious” due to the violations of the ceasefire including the use of heavy weapons, only 30% of which are able to be monitored at this time, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated.
“The ceasefire is violated every day, sometimes hundreds of times, including bombings, using weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements. This is because heavy weapons were not withdrawn. Only 30% of the equipment registered by the OSCE now can be …
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NATO Secretary General reiterates need to maintain dialogue with Russia
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called for toning down aggressive rhetoric towards Russia, while at the same time emphasizing the need to maintain dialogue with Moscow, TASS reported.
"I welcome any toning down of the rhetoric because I think words matter and the less aggressive rhetoric can be a first step towards also a better dialogue,” Stoltenberg stated. “At the same time, words matter, but of course deeds matter even more. So, therefore the important thing is what we see, what …
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NATO will strengthen cooperation with Georgia for security in the Black Sea region
NATO will work closely with Georgia to strengthen security measures in the Black Sea region, which is of strategic importance to the alliance, as stated by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
"We will continue to work with Georgia on the challenges that we see in the Black Sea region. We have made an assessment of the security situation in the Black Sea region and, of course, Georgia is one of the …
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The first short notice reservist exercise begins in Estonia
The first short notice exercise of reservists in Estonia’s history, Okas ("Quill"), began on Friday, Interfax reported.
A decision about holding the exercises was adopted by the government on Thursday. 303 reservists have been called up for the exercise. The goal of this is to work out the chain of command of national defense, starting with the decision making process of the government and ending with the call up of reservists.
All reservists who are taking part in the exercise were …
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Lavrov: Iskander missile systems were deployed to Kaliningrad due to destructive actions of NATO
Russia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, stated in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that the deployment of the Iskander-M missile systems to the Kaliningrad region was a result of the destructive actions of NATO.
“Under the existing conditions, Russia, which faces the need to adapt to the changing environment of the continent, had to undertake a set of measures to strengthen their defense capabilities and national security,” Lavrov noted.
He also stated …
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Estonian President: Trump should support the Baltic States
According to the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, the stability of Estonia is a prerequisite for the stability of all countries of the North Atlantic alliance.
"We have been helping to strengthen security in other world regions – in Afghanistan, Iraq, and today in Lebanon together with our Finnish partners, as part of UN missions all over the world for the last 20 years. We contributed to the security system based on shared values. And, we believe, it is absolutely clear – if there are …
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NATO was aware of Russia’s plans to deploy Iskander missile systems to Kaliningrad
NATO knew even before 2012 that Russia was planning to deploy Iskander missile systems to Kaliningrad because the previous-generation Tochka missile systems had become obsolete. However, Moscow is now describing the deployment of the missile systems as a response to the expansion of the alliance.
Russia deployed the Iskander missile systems to Kaliningrad last month. The official representative from NATO negatively assessed the deployment of the Russian missile systems, stated the vice …
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Russian goverment official: Russia will aim nuclear weapons at NATO facilities in response to aggression from the alliance
Russia could aim its nuclear weapons at any NATO facility in response to aggressive actions by the alliance and NATO’s attempts to “draw into its orbit more and more countries,” the first deputy chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Defense and Security, Franz Klintsevich, said to reporters.
“In response to the aggressive actions of NATO, the attempts of the alliance to draw into its orbit more and more countries, Russia will give a harsh and unequivocal answer. We will aim our …
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Stoltenberg: NATO's expansion is not a provocation
The Secretary-General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, stated on Thursday that he doesn’t agree with Moscow’s opinion that the expansion of the alliance is provocative in nature.
"No, I don’t understand the opinion that NATO’s expansion in central Europe is a provocative stance as is expressed in Russia," he said, while lecturing at Oxford University.
Stoltenberg stressed that each country is free to choose its own way.
"It is not NATO that is expanding, but Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, and …
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Rumsfeld: Georgia's application for membership in NATO should be sped up
According to former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Washington should help Georgia become an active participant in NATO’s regional strategy, the Voice of America reported.
Rumsfeld noted that Georgia can play an important role "in the strategies of any consortium within the framework of NATO regarding the protection of the Black Sea and the ‘New Europe’ from Russian adventurism."
"Georgia is located on a major transport route leading from the Caspian Sea to America's allies in Europe. …