ALEXANDER SHOKHIN PUTS FORWARD THREE PRINCIPLES WITH THE OBSERVANCE OF WHICH RUSSIA MIGHT NOT OBJECT TO NATO EXPANSIION EASTWARDS

MOSCOW, JANUARY 10.
/RIA Novosti correspondent Valery Asriyan/.

Russia might not object to the eastward expansion of NATO given the observance of three principles, believes First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Alexander Shokhin.

Talking to a RIA Novosti correspondent, he noted that Russia must receive from NATO guarantees that nuclear weapons will not be placed on the territory of newly admitted NATO member states, nor military infrastructures created there. "In a time of peace there must be no military bases stationed there," stressed Shokhin. The third principle the First Vice-Speaker of the State Duma formulated as "renunciation of the ideology of rapid NATO expansion." In his opinion, it can only involve a gradual expansion of this organisation.

He explained that in 1997 two or three members could enter NATO, and if their admission was accompanied by the observance of the aforementioned conditions, then after some time, having assessed the consequences of the enlargement that took place, it would be possible to make the next step also - to admit several more countries into the North Atlantic alliance. So far, according to Shokhin, NATO is coming out against this reasonable approach and "adheres to a deadend position."

The First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma declared that Russia could conduct a constructive dialogue with NATO if it felt safe. "But ignoring the interests of our country may lead to response moves on its part," noted Shokhin. In particular, he said the agreements on conventional arms in Europe could be revised and, in addition, Russia has the right to raise the question of "closer military cooperation within the CIS and above all concluding a close military alliance with Belarus."