BRUSSELS. Feb 6 (Interfax) - There trust between Russia and NATO has been undermined by the alliance's decision to stop its practical partnership with Russia on April 1, 2014, said Russian Permanent Representative to NATO Alexander Grushko.
"We did not make that decision. To our mind, there is a chance to restore confidence if NATO comes to realize that a whole range of problems cannot be resolved without the Russian Federation and broad collaboration with the international community is vital for achieving results. We are open to this kind of propositions," Grushko said.
He was telling Russian reporters about the North Atlantic Council meeting held at the level of defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday.
"We have been very frank, open and, I would say, persistent in our interaction in a number of security affairs," the senior diplomat continued.
He mentioned the Russia-NATO Council project for training drug control officers of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asian republics, Russia-NATO cooperation in the deterrence of terrorist threats coming from the airspace, interaction with NATO's counter piracy mission, Operation Ocean Shield, and the fight against terrorism amongst joint initiatives halted by the NATO initiative.
"If the projects had been fulfilled, we would have really bolstered instruments required for protecting public security against the backdrop of mounting terrorist threats," the head of the Russian diplomatic mission to the alliance remarked.
"Yet they stopped by the decision of NATO, and, speaking of confidence issues, I believe the ball is now in the alliance's court," Grushko said.
He added there was no "list of demands" the fulfillment of which could prompt NATO to review its decision to put the freeze on relations with Russia.