Russia opposes Croatian NATO entry

Russia vigorously objects to Croatia and Albania’s accession to NATO, as their membership could undermine European security.

Izvor: Tanjug

Friday, 11.07.2008.

16:30

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Russia vigorously objects to Croatia and Albania’s accession to NATO, as their membership could undermine European security. The Croatian Foreign Ministry responded by saying that good relations with Russia were very important to Zagreb, and that they wanted to maintain them in future. Russia opposes Croatian NATO entry “That is one of the priorities of Croatian foreign policy, but Croatia’s membership of NATO cannot represent a threat to peace and security,” read a statement from the ministry. Two days ago in Brussels, Croatia and Albania signed a protocol on NATO accession, thus opening the doors to formal membership that should follow at the NATO summit next year. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told Russian media that the accession of new countries to NATO undermined the most important principle of security—that the security of one group must not affect that of others. Moscow said that NATO expansion did not enhance security in Europe, but rather undermined collective efforts to tackle new risks and dangers, above all terrorism and organized crime, saying that NATO, as an organization that safeguarded certain countries from attack by others, was losing its raison d'etre. The U.S. State Department reacted to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s concerns by stressing that Russia did not have a right to veto decisions on NATO membership, and that joining the Alliance was the sovereign right of every country. The U.S. believes that this is not a matter of Russian opposition to Croatian defense policy, but an expression of opposition to NATO expansion in general. The signing of the protocol for NATO accession came after the NATO summit in Bucharest in April, where Croatia and Albania received membership invitations.

Russia opposes Croatian NATO entry

“That is one of the priorities of Croatian foreign policy, but Croatia’s membership of NATO cannot represent a threat to peace and security,” read a statement from the ministry.

Two days ago in Brussels, Croatia and Albania signed a protocol on NATO accession, thus opening the doors to formal membership that should follow at the NATO summit next year.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko told Russian media that the accession of new countries to NATO undermined the most important principle of security—that the security of one group must not affect that of others.

Moscow said that NATO expansion did not enhance security in Europe, but rather undermined collective efforts to tackle new risks and dangers, above all terrorism and organized crime, saying that NATO, as an organization that safeguarded certain countries from attack by others, was losing its raison d'etre.

The U.S. State Department reacted to the Russian Foreign Ministry’s concerns by stressing that Russia did not have a right to veto decisions on NATO membership, and that joining the Alliance was the sovereign right of every country.

The U.S. believes that this is not a matter of Russian opposition to Croatian defense policy, but an expression of opposition to NATO expansion in general.

The signing of the protocol for NATO accession came after the NATO summit in Bucharest in April, where Croatia and Albania received membership invitations.

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