BRUSSELS. December 1 (Interfax) - Robert Pszczel, who has been appointed as the head of the NATO information center in Moscow, told Interfax that he is positive about improved relations between NATO and Russia.
I think it will be an interesting period in my career and I will be able to contribute to further strengthening of NATO-Russia relations. New prospects, which opened up after the Lisbon summit earlier this month, should be used fully. I'm optimistic, Pszczel said.
The NATO center opened in Moscow in 2001 to spread awareness of NATO-Russia cooperation among the Russian public and to boost ties.
The position of head of the center had been vacant for over a year. In May 2009, Russia revoked the diplomatic accreditation from then head Isabel Francois and official Mark Opgenort. Both were diplomats with the Canadian Embassy in Russia.
The move was made in response to the decision by then NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer to revoke diplomatic accreditation from two staff members from the Russian representation to NATO: senior advisor and head of the political section Viktor Kochukov and the mission's attache and secretary Vasily Chizhov.
Senior NATO officials accused Russian diplomats of espionage. Russia said the accusations were contrived.