London, 28 February 1997 (RFE/RL) - Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov today continued to press for a binding treaty with NATO that would provide security guarantees for Russia in the event of the alliance's eastwards expansion.
Primakov told a news conference in London that Russia wanted assurances to be contained in the treaty that NATO's military infrastructure would not be deployed near its borders.
Primakov has been holding a series of talks with NATO officials and ministers from NATO countries this week to discuss Moscow's concerns.
Moscow opposes expansion, believing it would threaten Russia and re-divide Europe.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana told a French newspaper published today that a binding text governing relations between the alliance and Russia could be ready for signing at the NATO summit in Madrid in July.
Primakov told a news conference in London that Russia wanted assurances to be contained in the treaty that NATO's military infrastructure would not be deployed near its borders.
Primakov has been holding a series of talks with NATO officials and ministers from NATO countries this week to discuss Moscow's concerns.
Moscow opposes expansion, believing it would threaten Russia and re-divide Europe.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana told a French newspaper published today that a binding text governing relations between the alliance and Russia could be ready for signing at the NATO summit in Madrid in July.