MOSCOW. Nov 23 (Interfax-AVN) - Moscow hopes that NATO will engage in its military development and buildup with full observance of international law, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said.
Russia will keep close watch on NATO's summit, to be held in Riga on November 28, Gruzhko told Interfax on Thursday. "Russia has been closely following the Alliance's transformation," he added.
Grushko also said that NATO "is an important factor of force in world politics, which is acquiring a global character."
"The military development and build up within the Alliance must proceed with guaranteed observance of all norms of international law. This is crucial," the deputy foreign minister said.
"First of all, the UN Security Council has the prerogative in dealing with matters of using force. This is an indispensable condition for Russia's cooperation with the Alliance in the Russia-NATO Council," he said.
"Regarding NATO enlargement, the Russian position is well known to our partners," Grushko said.