Daily Archives: May 19, 2014

Romania: Leading by Example (NATO Secretary General #39;s Blog)
Blog by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen More SG video blogs in this playlist http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_vlwQEsZAbxpefLxKyDGPkdyvg8H...

By: NATO

Read the original:

Romania: Leading by Example (NATO Secretary General's Blog) - Video

NATO Secretary General with President of Romania
Opening remarks by the NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the joint press point with the President of Romania, Traian Basescu, Bucharest, Romania.

By: NATO

Visit link:

NATO Secretary General with President of Romania - Video

STUTTGART, Germany NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen rejected Russias claim on Monday that it was pulling massed troops back from the border with Ukraine, where unrest and Moscows annexation of the Crimean Peninsula have refocused the 28-nation NATO alliance on security in its own backyard.

NATO has dismissed previous claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin about the withdrawal of troops from Ukrainian border, in some cases offering satellite imagery to challenge his assertions.

I think it is the third Putin statement on withdrawal typo of Russian troops, but so far we havent seen any withdrawal of troops at all, Rasmussen said during a Monday news conference in Brussels.

Now, NATO must focus on a re-emerging Russian threat, Rasmussen said.

Western governments have accused Russia of massing 40,000 troops near the Ukrainian border in an effort to intimidate the new regime in Kiev.

We have seen the Russian military doctrine that NATO is considered an adversary, Rasmussen sad. And I think we should take that seriously, its not just words. So we have to adapt accordingly to review our defense plans, enhance our exercises and also consider appropriate deployments.

As the May 25 Ukrainian presidential election nears, Rasmussen called on Russia to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine, where a Russian separatist movement broke out after the February ouster of pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych. Moscow and Western countries have traded charges that other side has interfered in Ukraines internal affairs.

For NATO, Russias annexation of Crimea has focused attention on bolstering the alliances security presence in eastern Europe and the Baltics. This includes such measures as more fighter jet rotations through the Baltics, more war ships in regional waters and assorted war games with ground troops.

However, Rasmussen also warned of more potential instability in other parts of eastern Europe, including Moldova and Georgia, two countries that are seeking closer ties with the European Union.

We have seen Russia put a lot of pressure on countries in their near neighborhood as they are approaching the European Union for progress, Rasmussen said.

Read more:

NATO chief sees no retreat by Russian forces near Ukraines border

(CNN) -

NATO is urging Russia to follow through on its many pledges to withdraw troops along Ukraine's eastern border, saying it has seen no signs of soldiers returning to their bases.

There's no evidence of troop reductions despite Moscow's pledge to do so, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Monday.

A senior U.S. administration official echoed the sentiment.

Kiev said it's monitoring the situation to ensure the troops are returning to their permanent bases.

Rasmussen reiterated the need for the withdrawal and said he would "be the first" to welcome it.

"I think it's the third Putin statement on withdrawal of Russian troops ... but so far we haven't seen any withdrawal at all," he said.

"Withdrawal of Russian troops will be the first step to de-escalating the situation."

Russia and Ukrainian separatists should practice restraint to allow Ukraine's presidential election to go on as planned Sunday, Rasmussen said.

"We urge the armed pro-Russian separatist groups to stop their illegal activities. ... Russia should stop their support for these armed groups," he said.

Here is the original post:

NATO says no movement yet seen

NATO is urging Russia to follow through on its many pledges to withdraw troops along Ukraine's eastern border, saying it has seen no signs of soldiers returning to their bases.

There's no evidence of troop reductions despite Moscow's pledge to do so, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Monday.

A senior U.S. administration official echoed the sentiment.

Kiev said it's monitoring the situation to ensure the troops are returning to their permanent bases.

Rasmussen reiterated the need for the withdrawal and said he would "be the first" to welcome it.

"I think it's the third Putin statement on withdrawal of Russian troops ... but so far we haven't seen any withdrawal at all," he said.

"Withdrawal of Russian troops will be the first step to de-escalating the situation."

Russia and Ukrainian separatists should practice restraint to allow Ukraine's presidential election to go on as planned Sunday, Rasmussen said.

"We urge the armed pro-Russian separatist groups to stop their illegal activities. ... Russia should stop their support for these armed groups," he said.

"Russia should demonstrate a clear will to let the presidential election to go forward. The presidential election constitutes the best chance to find a sustainable solution to the crisis in Ukraine."

See the article here:

NATO to Russia: Extract Ukraine border troops