Anne Linde, OSCE Chair and Swedish Foreign Minister, commented on Russia’s proposals on security guarantees. She believes that it is unacceptable to question the current security system.
“It is completely unacceptable to question the European security system, which respects the territorial integrity and the choice of the security policy of each country,” said Ms Linde on TV4 (quoted by TASS).
The OSCE chairman believes that Moscow’s proposals were the “culmination” of the buildup of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine and “increasingly aggressive rhetoric.” “They want to go back to the times when there were areas of interest, those that were during the Cold War, and abandon the European security system,” added Ms Linde.
The Swedish Foreign Minister believes that the European security system is important both for her country and for other European states: they can join NATO or not. “And here no one has the right to threaten or use force; every country has the right to territorial integrity. And in the proposals of Russia all this is called into question, ”she added.
Ann Linde also criticized Russia’s proposals to ban military exercises along its borders, as well as to station military units and equipment there. According to the minister, Moscow cannot resolve such issues. The Foreign Minister noted that Sweden, according to the security doctrine, needs the opportunity to conduct military exercises, including on the border with Russia, “since we are located where we are located.”
At the same time, Ms Linde stated that she does not refuse to engage in dialogue with Russia. In her opinion, the OSCE is a good platform for this.
Russia last week proposed draft agreements with the United States and NATO on security guarantees. Among other things, Moscow demands that Washington and its allies abandon NATO expansion, stop military cooperation with post-Soviet countries, remove American nuclear weapons from Europe, and withdraw NATO forces to the 1997 positions.
About Washington’s position – in an interview with John Sullivan “Kommersant” “There are a number of basic principles that we are not ready to discuss.”
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