Russia says NATO decision reminds of Cold War-style saber rattling

PanARMENIAN.Net - NATO's decision to suspend cooperation with Russia resembles Cold War-style sword swinging, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Wednesday, April 2, according to RIA Novosti.

The 28-nation NATO bloc announced Tuesday it will suspend all practical contacts with Moscow, in a move to put further pressure on Russia following its reunification with Crimea.

"The decision of the NATO Council of foreign ministers to suspend cooperation with Russia in the civilian and military spheres seems like déjà vu," Alexander Lukashevich said, adding that "the language of the announcement is reminiscent of ‘sword swinging' during the Cold War."

The diplomat said the alliance had already frozen the work of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) in 2008, in the wake of a brief war between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia. Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and another breakaway Georgian region, Abkhazia, shortly after the war, prompting furious criticism from the West.

"How this 'freezing' ended, we all know. NATO returned to cooperation with Russia on its own initiative," Lukashevich said.

NATO resumed cooperation after 10 months, announcing that the NRC should become an "all-weather forum" to discuss differences and cooperate in enhancing dialogue.

The diplomat said that neither Russia nor NATO countries win in halting the ties.