WEIMAR. April 10 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared the need to change "the quality of relations" between Russia and NATO.
Speaking at a news conference in Weimar on Wednesday, Putin stressed that if qualitative changes are achieved, this will pave the way for "the construction of a new security system."
The Russian president recalled that a new body in the form of a political "twenty" in which each member will have "an equal say" in decision-making is expected to replace the existing consultative cooperation body of Russia and NATO.
"We do not make any claims to have a veto right on NATO issues or those linked with the fifth article of the Rome Treaty," Putin said.
The Russian president believes that a number of issues including the fight against terrorism "cannot be resolved effectively without Russia."
When asked about what Russia may lose once the "20" format is set up, Putin said that "we will lose nothing except the obsolete Cold War ideology."