Стр. 5 - V

Alexey Fedotov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Re-
public of Slovakia
THE PRESENT INTERNATIONAL SITUATION and the situation
within our country are such that the issues of human rights, soft power
and new challenges and threats, among others, which may have aroused
less interest in previous years, are now acquiring special urgency and
relevance.
Slovakia is an EU member and we should not have excessive expecta-
tions due to its obligations to NATO and the EU; nevertheless, our bi-
lateral relations are very interesting. Understandably, even new
challenges and threats are a subject on which we can convincingly present our approaches. If
you do not sow a field there will be no sprouts.
Alexander Grushko, Permanent Representative to NATO
REGARDING Russia's relations with NATO, it should be pointed out
that we can hardly count on any changes. By its own admission, NATO
has defined a new configuration of forces in a new security environ-
ment. It is obvious to us that this strengthening should be viewed in a
broad context.
In addition, military activities - continuing drills, the rotation of forces,
the constant presence in the Baltic Sea, and tours of duty in the Black
Sea - is creating a new military reality near our borders.
The most disturbing part is that it seems to be a long-term strategy,
which is now being put into practice in defense planning and military
organization and development, and this means that when military plans are fully implemented,
they will begin to generate a hostile policy toward Russia. Naturally, such military activity always
needs some substantiation with regard to citizens of countries that are involved in all this.
I would like to note that it is important to consider the sum total of what NATO has, and take
the necessary compensatory steps and measures.
Russia has absolutely no interest in becoming involved in a new confrontation, in a new arms
race. Our interest is related to something entirely different: the conditions of normal internal
development in collaboration with all parties, in particular with Europe,
which we regard as our partner.
Oleg Ozerov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is deeply concerned by the destabilizing processes that
are taking place in the region. Even on such a sensitive issue as Syria,
we have an understanding of the need for dialogue, the need to listen
to each other and look for points of convergence. The main point of
convergence is the need to terminate the conflict in Syria and launch a
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