NATO foreign ministers wrap up talks focused on deterring Russia

Record ID: 102632

  • Title: NATO foreign ministers wrap up talks focused on deterring Russia
  • Date: 20th May 2016
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (MAY 20, 2016) (REUTERS) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN KERRY WALKING OUT OF NATO HEADQUARTERS LOBBY STEINMEIER WALKING OUT OF LOBBY SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER MARGOT WALLSTROM SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Swedish) SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER MARGOT WALLSTROM, SAYING: "All parties had a really welcoming attitude. Of course I was a bit challenged by my counterparts saying 'welcome to NATO' and that Sweden and Finland should join as full-fledged members. But in general the wish was that we strengthen ties. There is respect for the role we play and we need to assess the surrounding world, our neighbourhood, including the threat from Russia." CAMERAMAN FILMING REPORTER'S HAND HOLDING RADIO RECORDER (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER MARGOT WALLSTROM, SAYING: "Well we are completely loyal to the European Union position on Russia. We need to see Minsk Agreement implemented and we insist on having the sanctions regime continue." WALLSTROM THANKING REPORTERS AND WALKING AWAY GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER NIKOS KOTZIAS WALKING OUT OF LOBBY
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2016 15:25
  • Keywords: NATO EU Stoltenberg Mogherini security Russia Margot Wallstrom Sweden John Kerry
  • Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: NATO,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0034IM4MDJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: NATO foreign ministers ended a two-day meeting in Brussels on Friday (May 20) where deterring Russia, helping stabilise Libya, stepping up the Mediterranean mission to stop smugglers and Afghanistan dominated the agenda.
    NATO and the European Union announced during the talks that they will formally declare a cooperation pact at the alliance's Warsaw summit in July, overcoming decades of confusion and mistrust over how to provide security beyond Europe's borders.
    The foreign ministers of non-NATO nations Finland and Sweden and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini met with the North Atlantic council on Friday.
    "Well we are completely loyal to the European Union position on Russia. We need to see Minsk Agreement implemented and we insist on having the sanctions regime continue."
    Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said, referring to a ceasefire agreement to end fighting in eastern Ukraine agreed by leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France.
    Nordic countries have stepped up military cooperation since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
    Last month two Russian warplanes flew simulated attack passes near a U.S. destroyer in international waters in the Baltic, according to the U.S. military.
    Sweden's government has said it will not join the alliance, but four opposition parties want membership.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register