Russia Says West Not Ready to Discuss Europe’s Security Crisis
Dmitry Poliansky, Russia’s permanent representative to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, has said Western countries are not willing to discuss ways out of Europe’s security crisis or the factors behind it.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, he said that from Russia’s point of view, the worsening military-political situation in Europe and NATO expansion are among the issues that must be raised in any discussion of the roots of the crisis.
According to Poliansky, Russia has repeatedly warned about the security crisis in Europe and has stressed the need to address its underlying factors. He also described the collapse of Europe’s previous security architecture as part of the situation.
The Russian official added that, because of fundamental differences among OSCE members over the causes of the crisis and how to contain it, the prospect of holding such a discussion currently appears weak. He said that despite the need for this dialogue, Western countries are still not ready for it.
Poliansky also described agreement on next year’s OSCE chairmanship as another important issue. He said setting the framework for the organisation’s future budget is also among the vital tasks ahead.
The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe is a regional body dealing with security, politics and cooperation among European countries and several other states, and it plays an advisory and coordinating role on security issues in Europe.
