Medvedev criticizes NATO exercise in Georgia

Posted by Philip Dru on 5/15/09 • Categorized as Georgia, Russia

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev criticized NATO’s exercises in Georgia and pushed for a new trans-Atlantic security treaty in remarks broadcast Friday.

He said NATO’s expansion eastward has created new divisions and hurt European security.

The United States, Canada, the European Union, NATO and alliances of ex-Soviet nations must take part in forging a new security pact, Medvedev said in an interview with Russian state television, fragments of which were broadcast Friday.

Russia and NATO recently started to improve ties frozen after Russia’s war with Georgia in August, but tensions soared again over expulsions of diplomats and NATO exercises that began last week in Georgia.

"What’s better: create a new security structure or hold military maneuvers in close vicinity proximity to the area which saw a military action less than a year ago?" he said.

Moscow has criticized NATO for taking former Soviet republics and satellites in Central and Eastern Europe as members, and has fiercely opposed the alliance’s plan to include Russia’s neighbors Georgia and Ukraine.

"NATO is getting bigger and security becomes fragmented," Medvedev said. "I don’t think it can suit anyone, no matter what our partners say."

Medvedev first proposed to work out a new trans-Atlantic security pact in June, but the previous U.S. administration had ignored the offer.

President Barack Obama said after meeting with Medvedev in London last month that the proposal is worth exploring — part of the new U.S. administration push for better ties with Moscow.

Medvedev reaffirmed Friday that the new security pact he proposed is not aimed against NATO.

AP | Friday, May 15, 2009

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