MOSCOW. Jan 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Military contacts between Russia and NATO members have much decreased over the past few years, Volker Ruhe, chairman of the German Bundestag's International Affairs Committee, said at a meeting with Andrei Nikolayev, chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee.
While the mid-1990s saw on the average 50 to 60 German- Russian military cooperation events annually, there were only 30 in 2002, and as few as 19 are planned for the current year, said Ruhe, who was German defense minister in 1992-1998.
According to him, this does not correspond to the level of relations approved by the highest Russian and NATO authorities.
Nikolayev said that a decline in Russian-NATO relations was caused by the "ongoing NATO enlargement policy." He emphasized the fact that the Baltic states had been invited to the Alliance.
"I know that Europe is discussing whether the Baltic states could be granted armor and artillery quotas within the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. If it really happens, states with dozens and hundreds of artillery pieces and tanks will emerge on Russia's borders, he added.
"Russia's concern over the possibility that NATO troops could be deployed in the Baltic states has no grounds, for NATO leadership has repeatedly said that its formations would not be deployed in the territories of the new members of the Alliance," Ruhe said.
Speaking about the military reform, the two lawmakers enlarged on voluntary and conscript service.
"Russia will not switch to full voluntary manning of the Armed Forces within the next 10 to 15 years," Nikolaev said. "This is due not only to financial problems, but also to the mentality of our people. It should be all people rather than a certain stratum that defends the country."
Germany's ex-defense minister backed the Russian general. "I am convinced that Germany should not eliminate conscription either. It is impossible to defend the nation without personal participation of the citizens," he said.