BRUSSELS. April 19 (Interfax) - The situation in Syria is likely to be discussed at the Russia-NATO Council's ministerial meeting on April 23, although it does not figure on the official agenda, said Russia's NATO Ambassador Alexander Grushko.
"NATO has limited its role today to that of defending Turkey from missile threats by deploying Patriot missiles in that country. The NATO leaders have said on many occasions that this decision is not intended for military interference, or for putting no-fly zones in place or introducing humanitarian corridors in Syria," he said in an interview with Interfax in Brussels.
"There is no alternative to a political settlement in Syria. All military scenarios may lead to a catastrophe," he said.
"All efforts must be centered today on launching a political process based on the Geneva platform," he said.
Grushko said that the parties also discuss tensions on the Korean peninsula.
"All members of the Russia-NATO Council share the world community's position set forth in the G8 foreign ministers' final statement of April 11, 2013, and UN Security Council Resolution 2094 of March 7, 2013. We also think that all countries must demonstrate maximum caution and balance, and refrain from moves that would cause the situation to deteriorate and to become uncontrollable," the Russian diplomat said.
Grushko said that the Russia-NATO Council will discuss a broad agenda of international issues connected with Euroatlantic security directly or indirectly.
"We hope the foreign ministers will give priority to the implementation of the main goal, set at the Russia-NATO Council's Lisbon summit in 2010, to build a common space of peace, security and stability in the Euroatlantic zone," he said.
"If common challenges and threats are to be countered jointly, a true partnership, based on mutual respect, transparency and predictability, must be built," he went on to say.
The Council's cooperation projects will be examined, he said.
"We cooperate with the Alliance in fighting terrorists and pirates. A host of projects on Afghanistan are well underway, including projects to train anti-drug personnel for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asian countries, and also ground services personnel for the Afghan Air Force to maintain Russian-made helicopters," Grushko said.
"These projects have won general acclaim and all members of the Russia-NATO Council are ready to continue implementing them. New areas of cooperation may emerge, but this will be discussed in the context of the new international, mission in Afghanistan after the International Security Assistance Force mission ends in 2014.