MOSCOW, October 6 (RIA Novosti) - Statements by the new NATO secretary general are undermining the pillars of international security system and may lead to Russia taking countermeasures, Russian Defense Ministry Public Council member Igor Korotchenko told RIA Novosti on Monday.
Recently appointed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Sunday in an interview to Polish broadcaster TVP Info that NATO has a strong army that may be deployed anywhere the organization chooses.
"Such statements run counter to the system of international security, as the alliance poses threat to Russia by advancing its military closer to the Russian borders. Therefore, it will cause responsive measures," Korotchenko, who is also National Defense magazine editor-in-chief, said.
The expert did not specify which steps Russia may take, but noted that if such statements are implemented in practice, Russia will have to take a military response.
Korotchenko also emphasized that Stoltenberg had ultimately confirmed the alliance's intention to play a "global policing role," which is incompatible with the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security between Russia and NATO. In this act signed in 1997 NATO took on the obligation not to permanently station its troops in the east.
Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, took office as NATO chief October 1. Poland was Stoltenberg's first state visit in his new position. He went to Warsaw to reassure the country that the alliance is ready to provide thorough protection for its member states.
Relations between Russia and NATO have deteriorated amid the crisis in Ukraine. The alliance has repeatedly accused Russia of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs, sending troops to Ukraine, and went as far as to claim that Moscow planned to invade Ukraine. However, none of these statements were supported with any evidence.
Following Crimea's reunification with Russia in March, NATO boosted its military presence close to Russia's border, specifically in Poland and the former Soviet Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia.
Russia has repeatedly expressed concern over NATO's increased military presence in the country's neighboring states.
