(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Moscow, August 02 (QNA) - The Russian Defense Ministry has invited NATO experts to hold consultations in Moscow in September on the military-political situation in Europe, Russian Deputy Minister Anatoly Antonov said.
"NATO military experts are invited to Moscow in September for consultations on the military-political situation in Europe," Russian News Agency (TASS) quoted Antonov as saying.
According to the Deputy Defense Minister, the Russian military department held on July 29 a briefing for military attaches accredited in Moscow during which informed them of the results of the NATO-Russia Council's (NRC) July meeting. "Despite the difference of views on the causes and effects of the decision made at the Alliance summit in Warsaw, the Russian side expressed readiness for a constructive dialogue on issues of mutual interest," Antonov said. He added that the Russian Defense Ministry "is thoroughly analyzing the decisions announced in Warsaw." The Deputy Minister said that the Russian side at the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council proposed a "positive program" for the development of relations with the Alliance. According to him, its implementation would promote the "de-escalation of tensions and prevent military incidents on the contact line between the sides' armed forces." "Mutual readiness to ensure military aviation flights over the Baltic only with transponders switched on is a priority for the Russian Defense Ministry. To this end, experts of NATO and non-NATO Baltic states are invited to Moscow for consultations and working out coordinated measures for implementing this initiative, put forward by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto," Antonov said.
Relations between NATO and Russia have soured since Moscow annexed the Crimea peninsula of Ukraine in March 2014. (QNA)