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.
aa.com.tr/en
