Russia consul general in Lviv tells NATO ambassadors that alliance cannot deal with terrorism without Russia.

June17200818:11

June 17, Russia consul general in Lviv Yevhen Guzeyev addressed a forum of NATO ambassadors with Ivan Franko university faculty and students. As the forum went on, the consul had this to say: “I will communicate with you in Ukrainian because I respect the audience. First, I would like to stress that Russia values highly its relationships with NATO. We have cooperation with the alliance because there are many problems which need to be sorted out. I think, without Russia the problem of Afghanistan cannot be resolved, just as the problem of curbing terrorism. That is why we value our links with NATO.”

Striking a more critical edge, the consul added: “We are against NATO’s eastward expansion. We do not see the purpose for it. Every country can chose its own security system and every nation can chose its own way to defend the country. The voice of the people must be heard by the leaders of the country and NATO members. NATO’s expansion poses a threat to Russia’s strategic security and its national interests.”

“Ukraine’s entry in the alliance means that there will be military bases on its territory. Currently, the leaders of Ukraine have promised that there won’t be any NATO bases, and we trust Pres Yushchenko. However, there is no knowing who Ukraine next president will be? Why, then, should we believe mere worlds? It was Bismark who said “don’t believe any good intentions, see what’s behind them.” And this we can see well – military bases pose a threat to Russia. We have the examples of the Baltic states, Poland, the Czech republic, Romania and Bulgaria. And we were promised that no bases will be deployed there. There are bases in Romania and Bulgaria, and soon there will be bases in the Czech republic and Poland. And no one asked the peoples whether they want this kind of security,” Consul Guzeyev added.