Russia "to respond proportionately" to NATO's latest moves

<a href="http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region.php?yyyy=2016&mm=05&dd=19&nav_id=98061" class="text-link" target= "_blank">The signing of the protocol</a> on Montenegro's accession to NATO "merely confirms the intention of NATO to accelerate the admission process to the maximum extent."

Izvor: Tanjug

Friday, 20.05.2016.

10:10

Russia
(Getty Images, file)

Russia "to respond proportionately" to NATO's latest moves

She told a news conference in Sochi, RF, that "the efforts to artificially drag Podgorica into the alliance are proceeding against the background of backstage deals with Montenegro’s top officials in defiance of the opinion of the country’s people and in bypass of the democratic principles and procedures NATO is ostensibly firmly committed to."

NATO’s latest attempts at changing the military and political landscape in Europe, in particular, in the context of its outspoken policy of deterrence towards Russia, will inevitably affect Russia’s interests and force it to respond proportionately," Zakharova said, according to TASS.

Dragging Montenegro into NATO will not be left without Russia’s reaction, she also said, as quoted by the agency.

The decision to allow Montenegro to join NATO should now be confirmed by all members of the alliance, but the basic proposal has been adopted, according to the the BBC.

NATO said that Montenegro has provided troops for training in Afghanistan and financial assistance for security forces, but given that the country's army has a little over 2,000 soldiers, its contribution to the Alliance will be limited.

NATO now has 29 members, counting Montenegro. Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are said to be "on the waiting list."

According to the BBC, Bosnia-Herzegovina's status is still pending "until it resolves some issues about ownership of defense property" - whereas "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - that's what NATO has to call it - is unlikely to join until it resolves Greece's objection to it being called simply Macedonia, which also happens to be the name of a region of Greece itself."

The BBC also speculates that Montenegro might be the last country to join NATO as "a deeply divided Ukraine is not, at present, seeking to sign up, and Georgia has so many problems with Russia that it is almost impossible to see it becoming a member under current circumstances."

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