Russia blasts 'secretive' deal
2008-10-09 19:47
Moscow - Russia is accusing Nato and the United Nations of signing a co-operation agreement without informing Moscow.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that the heads of Nato and the UN signed the agreement in a "secretive way" and did not show Russia a draft of the document for review.
A Nato spokesperson denied the accusation. He said Russia was fully briefed on the cooperation declaration signed last month and there were no surprises.
Tensions between Russia and Nato have increased in recent years. They were further strained by Russia's war against Georgia, a Nato aspirant, in August.
The Western alliance has pointedly stressed that the door remains open to Georgia despite Russian recognition of two separatist Georgian regions as independent nations.
- AP