MUNICH -- NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen today expressed surprise that Russia still considers the military alliance a major security threat.
Rasmussen, speaking on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich, said, "I have to say that this new doctrine does not reflect the real world."
"To make NATO the main threat to Russia simply doesn't reflect realities," he said. "NATO is not an enemy of Russia. On the contrary, we want to develop a strategic partnership with Russia, and I will continue on that path, and I will make that clear in my talks with [Russian] Foreign Minister [Sergei] Lavrov."
His reaction comes a day after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a new version of Russia's main military strategy document, which names NATO expansion as one of Russia's chief threats.
compiled from agency reports
Rasmussen, speaking on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich, said, "I have to say that this new doctrine does not reflect the real world."
"To make NATO the main threat to Russia simply doesn't reflect realities," he said. "NATO is not an enemy of Russia. On the contrary, we want to develop a strategic partnership with Russia, and I will continue on that path, and I will make that clear in my talks with [Russian] Foreign Minister [Sergei] Lavrov."
His reaction comes a day after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a new version of Russia's main military strategy document, which names NATO expansion as one of Russia's chief threats.
compiled from agency reports
