MOSCOW. March 6 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia will use every legal means to defend its interests in relations with NATO, Russia's permanent representative to the alliance Dmitry Rogozin announced on Thursday.
"Russia will not cede even a millimeter of its position. We will stand by our national interests using every means available and will defend our national dignity. This position has fully justified itself," Rogozin told Vesti 24 television, commenting on NATO's decision to resume full-format cooperation with Russia.
The Kremlin's stance is cardinally different from that of NATO which "several months ago made an absolutely unfair and irresponsible decision to curtail cooperation with Russia," Rogozin said.
The alliance's decision to restore full-format relations with Moscow apparently came under pressure from the United States, the most influential NATO member, he said.
As for NATO countries that opposed the move, "the 'cold war party' simply does not want to acknowledge its colossal defeat," Rogozin said.
Russophobia has become a state policy in some countries which, apparently afraid of getting lost among major powers, "are trying to scandalize relations with Russia, portraying themselves as victims of 'Russian imperialism' and expecting to be petted on the head", the diplomat remarked.
"That position holds no prospects. Moreover, it increasingly irritates both "old Europeans" who are keen to maintain good relations with Moscow and the new U.S. administration that does not need petty squabbling either and would welcome serious 'adult' dialogue with Russia," Rogozin said.
Rogozin refused to name the countries that opposed the resumption of Russia-NATO relations.