Russia’s newly appointed ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin sees the strengthening of the Russian national security as one of the main issues making up his policy. Having arrived in Brussels on Sunday, Mr. Rogozin said Russia was going to strengthen its external security to focus more on its home policies, on economic and social reforms and the implementation of national projects.

Dmitry Rogozin is starting his work on Monday after handing letters of credence to the NATO secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. On Wednesday, 30 January, he will take part in his first Russia-NATO council meeting between the ambassadors. Before leaving for Brussels, Mr. Rogozin commented on what he thought to be the most difficult issue in the relations with the alliance…

«Military issues - that is the stumbling block in today’s Russia-NATO negotiation process. Our U.S. partners have blocked the 2008 cooperation program because of Russia’s moratorium on the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE). I have repeatedly noted that the CFE treaty is outdated, and all its restrictions are nothing but a survival of the Cold War period».

In Brussels Dmitry Rogozin announced that Russia won`t discuss the CFE treaty until all western countries ratify its revised version. However, Mr. Rogozin added that it was even more important not to discuss consciously unacceptable variants. He also said reminded that there were such problems the West could never settle without Russia’s help. Afghanistan was one of the examples. Regarding non-military aspects, Russia can boast a wide range of rescue techniques which can be applied in case of natural disasters and technogenic catastrophes in close cooperation with NATO forces.

Mr. Rogozin concluded that although the current Russia-NATO cooperation leaves much to be desired, the Kremlin is aware that the dialogue with the world’s biggest political and military alliance must involve all the concerned organizations to make the cooperation really effective.