Russia Criticizes Georgia-Related Parts of NATO Chicago Summit Declaration

Russia’s Foreign Ministry expressed “regret” and “concern” on those parts of the Chicago NATO Summit declaration in which Georgia-related issues are discussed.

“We are studying adopted declaration thoroughly. Decisions of the Chicago [Summit] will become a topic of discussions in frames of NATO-Russia Council,” Alexander Lukashevich, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman, said on May 24, adding that there were “no major surprises” in the Chicago summit declaration.

“Actually we have been informed in advance by partners about all the planned decisions as it is required by principles of mutual trust, transparency and predictability,” he said.

He said that among the disagreements with NATO was Georgia.

“In this context we note with regret and concern those elements of the Chicago NATO Summit in which the North Atlantic Alliance reiterates all the previous decisions in respect of Georgia and calls on Russia to reverse its position about Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It is obvious, that no principle conclusions have been made by NATO from the tragic events of August, 2008,” Lukashevich said.

He also criticized NATO for “clear political and factual ‘typos’ made accidentally or intentionally” in the declaration by referring “to August 12, 2008 Medvedev-Sarkozy plan, formulating basic provisions of post-conflict settlement of consequences of Saakashvili regime’s aggression against South Ossetia, as ‘cease-fire agreement’.”

“NATO’s efforts towards Georgia should have been focused on search for ways to facilitate stability and security in the region,” Lukashevich said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman also spoke about parts of the Chicago summit which address the issue of missile defence; he said that NATO’s statement that its missile defense was not directed against Russia “is a step in the right direction,” but also added it was not enough to create foundation for cooperation. He reiterated Moscow’s demand for a legally binding treaty guaranteeing the missile shield would not be used as a deterrent to Moscow’s own systems.