From November 1, Russia suspends the work of the permanent mission to NATO. This was announced by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, reports RIA News…
Also, according to the diplomat, the information bureau of the North Atlantic Alliance in Moscow will stop its activities. Russia has already brought to the attention of NATO information about retaliatory steps in connection with the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Brussels.
This decision was made in response to the actions of the North Atlantic Alliance, which revoked the accreditation of eight employees of the Russian permanent mission to the bloc.
The diplomat pointed to the disinterest of the military bloc in an equal dialogue. “We do not see a great need to continue to pretend that some changes are possible in the foreseeable future,” the minister concluded.
In turn, NATO spokesman Oana Lungescu said that NATO regrets Russia’s decision to suspend the activities of its mission.
At the same time, Lungescu stressed that the alliance is open for dialogue with Russia after the closure of missions, including through the Russia-NATO Council. “NATO’s policy towards Russia remains consistent. We have stepped up our containment and defenses in response to Russia’s aggressive actions. At the same time, we remain open for dialogue, including through the Russia-NATO Council, ”the diplomat said.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Moscow will formulate and implement responses to NATO’s actions to reduce the size of the Russian mission under the alliance.
The spokesman for the Russian president noted that the North Atlantic alliance “in general has an anti-Russian orientation.” He stressed that this is not only the perception of the Russian authorities, but also an objective reality, which is confirmed by the actions of the military bloc.
Peskov also said that so far there is “no need to talk about cooperation between Russia and NATO” and that NATO is narrowing down “opportunities for dialogue”.
Andrei Klimov, head of the Federation Council commission for the protection of state sovereignty, also spoke about the expulsion of diplomats. He said that NATO’s decision to keep only 10 diplomats would not go unanswered. At the same time, the senator recalled that some time ago the alliance hinted at a desire for positive relations with Russia. But the RF did not hear a response to the proposal to take concrete steps.
On October 6, NATO confirmed the reduction of the Russian mission in Brussels and explained that only 10 people would remain there. Such a statement is published RIA News…
“We confirm that we have revoked the accreditation of eight employees of the Russian mission to NATO, who were undeclared members of Russian intelligence,” the agency quotes the representatives of the alliance.
The agency notes that in this way 10 diplomats from Russia will remain in the mission instead of 20.
The Sky News TV channel, citing sources, said that the leaders of the NATO countries had agreed to expel eight Russians. In addition, the alliance plans to abolish the positions of two employees of the Russian mission. The reason for this decision is Russia’s “hostile activity” in the alliance member countries.
NATO already expelled Russians from a mission in Brussels in 2018. This happened against the backdrop of the scandal with the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal. Then the accreditation was revoked from seven employees of the permanent mission, and three more were refused its grant.
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