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West Suspends Fighting Terrorism, Drugs With Russia Over Ukraine

© RIA Novosti . Egor Aleev / Go to the mediabankLaw-enforcement officer with a guard dog on the leash
Law-enforcement officer with a guard dog on the leash - Sputnik International
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The pause in NATO's collaboration with Russia in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking because of Moscow's position on the Ukrainian crisis "punishes" primarily the people of the involved territories and points out the shortsighted approach of a range of Western countries, Ilya Rogachev, director of the department of new challenges and threats at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told RIA Novosti.

The pause in NATO's collaboration with Russia in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking because of Moscow's position on the Ukrainian crisis "punishes" primarily the people of the involved territories and points out the shortsighted approach of a range of Western countries, Ilya Rogachev, director of the department of new challenges and threats at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told RIA Novosti.

"Some of our partners, NATO members in particular, are wrapping up the anti-terrorism collaboration with us because of our position on Ukraine. If NATO does not collaborate with us on anti-terrorism, it will prove, in particular, that there is much less mutual understanding and fewer cooperation possibilities in this area than Russia was counting on," Rogachev said.

Not one single country or a group of countries can fight such a global threat as terrorism without the involvement of the civil society, nongovernmental and nonreligious organizations, as well as mass media, he said.

"If this coalition is disturbed, especially due to far-fetched reasons, all efforts are bound to fail. Unfortunately, this destructive and shortsighted approach is what we are dealing with now," Rogachev said, adding that there was still a possibility of going back to partnership in joint projects, especially with the United States.

"We hope our partners will change their minds and we will shortly return to [joint] projects. But this requires corresponding political will, which is lacking at the moment.

He added that the decision to primarily sacrifice the collaboration in the areas of fighting terrorism and drugs was "politicized," with an "ideology-driven" approach.

“By trying to punish us, they are really primarily punishing the population of the territories involved, as well as themselves. Heroin will remain a 'big seller' in Europe," the diplomat said.

NATO has been flexing its muscles near the Russian border since Crimea’s reunification with Russia in March. Moscow has repeatedly expressed concern over Western pressure on Russia.

NATO limited its collaboration with Russia in several areas after the political crisis in Ukraine escalated in February with the ouster of then acting President Viktor Yanokovych and the reunification of Crimea with Russia in March.

NATO expanded its presence in the Baltics and the Black Sea, explaining the measures with the need to ensure the security of its allies.

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