MOSCOW. March 30 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia still does not understand the NATO decision to patrol the air space over the Baltic states, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko told a Tuesday briefing in Moscow.
"This decision is absolutely unnecessary. From a security point of view, the region has been virtually demilitarized," he said. "Under NATO instructions, the possible aircraft deployment could be justified, but it is an outdated approach, 20-30 years old," Yakovenko said.
Now that NATO and Russia are conducting a dialogue, the move to deploy aircraft in the Baltic states is excessive, he said.